Iran Blasts U.S. Strike on Frigate in International Waters

(MENAFN) Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi has sharply condemned Washington for destroying Tehran's IRIS Dena frigate in international waters roughly 2,000 kilometres from Iranian shores — a strike he said came without any prior warning.

Araghchi conveyed Tehran's outrage during separate telephone conversations with Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath, according to a statement issued Friday by Iran's Foreign Ministry. The calls centred on what Tehran characterised as ongoing U.S. and Israeli "aggression" against the Islamic Republic.

In both conversations, Araghchi outlined what he described as "crimes" carried out by Israel and the United States during their military "aggression" against Iran in recent days. He urged all governments and the United Nations to issue unequivocal condemnations of the "criminal" actions. He also extended thanks to Sri Lanka for its efforts in rescuing surviving Iranian sailors from the stricken vessel.

The diplomatic outreach follows a dramatic escalation in the region. On Saturday, U.S. and Israeli forces launched coordinated airstrikes on Tehran and other Iranian cities, killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei alongside senior military commanders and civilians. Iran retaliated with successive waves of missile and drone strikes directed at Israeli targets and American military installations across the region.

The IRIS Dena frigate was sunk by U.S. forces on Wednesday off the Sri Lankan coast in international waters. More than 80 of the ship's 130 crew members were killed in the attack.

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