The United States Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) has rejected claims that the Iranian warship IRIS Dena, which was sunk in a submarine attack near Sri Lankan waters, was unarmed, stating that the vessel constituted a legitimate military target under the Law of Armed Conflict.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), INDOPACOM described Iran’s assertion that the IRIS Dena was unarmed as “false”, noting that the Law of Armed Conflict authorises the use of force against valid military targets.

The command further stated that “U.S. forces planned for and Sri Lanka provided life-saving support to survivors in accordance with the Law of Armed Conflict”.

The statement came after Iran strongly disputed the U.S. position, maintaining that the sunken warship had been unarmed.

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh, who is currently visiting India, recently said that the IRIS Dena had been in a non-combat configuration and was returning home after participating in the MILAN multilateral naval exercise hosted by India.

According to Khatibzadeh, the U.S. action constituted a “serious violation of international law”.

The incident occurred while the Iranian frigate was returning after the MILAN naval exercise. At least 87 Iranian sailors were reportedly killed in the attack, marking a major escalation in tensions between the United States and Iran outside the Persian Gulf.

Meanwhile, 32 Iranians rescued from the Iranian warship IRIS Dena by the Sri Lanka Navy were admitted to the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital in Galle. Around 180 individuals had been on board the vessel, which encountered distress about 40 nautical miles off the coast of Galle.