External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has defended India's decision to allow the docking of an Iranian warship in Kochi, citing humanitarian grounds. The IRIS Lavan, which was part of the International Fleet Review, had developed technical problems and was allowed to dock in Kochi on March 1. The ship's 183 crew members are currently staying at naval facilities in Kochi.
Jaishankar said that India supports the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and international law, and that the decision to allow the docking was guided by humanitarian principles. He added that the situation was different when the ship set out and came to India, and that it was caught on the wrong side of events.
The IRIS Dena, another Iranian warship, sank south of Sri Lanka, resulting in the loss of 87 lives. Jaishankar said that India launched search and rescue operations after receiving a distress call from the vessel, but unfortunately, it did not make it.
The minister also emphasized the importance of understanding the realities of the Indian Ocean and the need to prioritize the safety of merchant ships operating in the region. He noted that Indians are a large segment of people who man merchant ships and that the country has a significant interest in safeguarding them.
