Tehran [Iran], March 17 (ANI): The commander of the Iranian Navy has issued a stern warning following a fatal incident in the Indian Ocean, stating that the nation's adversaries will encounter 'deadly retaliation' after several sailors were killed off the coast of Sri Lanka, according to Iranian state broadcaster Press TV.

Rear Admiral Shahram Irani addressed the loss of life, asserting that Tehran remains committed to responding to the attack. 'We will not forget the enemy's crime, and we will exact retribution for the blood of our martyrs,' the commander was quoted as saying.

The Iranian naval chief emphasised that the timing and nature of the response would catch their opponents off guard. He cautioned that 'the enemy should know that we will punish it with deadly strikes from where it least expects.'

While acknowledging the current period of grief for the naval forces, Admiral Irani maintained that Iran holds a position of strength. As reported by Press TV, he added, 'Although today we mourn our loved ones, by the grace of God, we have brought the enemy to its knees.'

This rhetoric follows earlier statements from Iran's Army chief, Major General Amir Hatami, who warned on March 14 that the deaths of crew members from the IRIS Dena warship 'will not go unanswered.' According to Al Jazeera, citing the state news agency IRNA, Hatami condemned the attack on the vessel, one of the country's newest warships, which occurred as it was returning from a military exercise.

Hatami clarified that the crew had completed a 'peaceful mission' and were targeted while on their way back to Iran. He emphasised that the sailors faced the assault 'despite not being engaged in a direct battle,' adding that the sacrifice of the Dena's crew would remain a symbol of courage in Iran's naval history.

The Iranian administration further reinforced this stance on Friday by releasing images of the coffins of the fallen sailors. In a post on X, the Iranian embassy in India identified the deceased as 'the pure and honoured bodies of the naval martyrs who lost their lives in the terrorist attack by US forces on the IRIS Dena warship.'

Providing further operational details, the Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Esmaeil Baqaei, paid tribute to the sailors killed after the frigate was torpedoed and sunk by a US submarine. The vessel was reportedly hit approximately 40 nautical miles off the coast of Galle, Sri Lanka.

Baqaei characterised the action by the United States as a 'war crime' and a violation of international laws. He noted on X that the Dena had been officially invited by the Indian Navy for a joint naval exercise and a port visit prior to being attacked near the coasts of India and Sri Lanka.

The spokesperson further alleged that the United States deliberately obstructed rescue operations. He argued that the strike constitutes aggression under UN General Assembly Resolution 3314 and a grave violation of the laws of war, including Geneva Convention II and Additional Protocol I.

The IRIS Dena sank south of Sri Lanka on March 4 after being struck by a US submarine torpedo approximately 20 nautical miles west of Galle. Following the incident, the Indian Navy deployed assets, including INS Tarangini, INS Ikshak, and P-8I maritime patrol aircraft, to assist Sri Lanka-led search and rescue efforts.

Of the estimated 180 crew members on board the vessel, approximately 87 sailors were reported dead. Around 32 survivors were rescued by the Sri Lankan Navy and subsequently admitted to hospitals in Galle. (ANI)