It shot a hole through all the clever acronyms devised to project India’s claim as the numero uno of this part of the Indian Ocean. Iran sent the Dena, an indigenously built Mowj-class destroyer equipped with missiles and anti-submarine torpedoes. India also said it had given another Iranian ship, IRIS Lavan, the green light to dock at Kochi port in Kerala on March 1. Frigate Dena, a guest of India’s Navy carrying almost 130 sailors, was struck in international waters without warning. In India, Prime Minister Modi and the ministers in charge of the related portfolios – EAM Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh – have all been silent.

Source: Sunday Times March 07, 2026 19:16 UTC