India’s silence on US sinking of Iran’s vessel ‘an embarrassment’: Op.

India’s silence over the sinking of the Iranian naval vessel IRIS Dena by the United states has discredited New Delhi and its claim to neutrality, instead contributing to its growing diplomatic isolation, author A.J Prabal wrote in the National Herald.

In a piece titled “US Navy embarrasses India by sinking ‘unarmed’ Iranian warship,” Prabal writes that the absence of either condolence or condemnation following the attack in the Indian Ocean has caused “embarrassment” for India and set a dangerous precedent for maritime security.

He characterizes the strike as unprovoked and conducted without warning, highlighting that torpedoes were fired without giving sailors a chance to evacuate. Based on this event, “No ship is now safe anywhere,” he notes.

India must reject warfare imposed by US, experts say
Former Indian Navy chief Arun Prakash called the sinking a reckless move that could destabilize regional waters and disrupt global shipping. In a televised interview, he slammed it as “a senseless and inflammatory act,” adding, “India must convey our displeasure to the US… you have brought maritime warfare to our borders without informing us,” expressing concern that a nuclear submarine was operating close to India’s coastline without coordination.

Strategic affairs analyst Sushant Singh said the incident dealt a blow to New Delhi’s regional credibility, noting the Iranian vessel had just departed Indian waters after participating in MILAN, a naval exercise hosted by India at Visakhapatnam. “In all likelihood, the Trump administration bypassed the Modi government entirely, launching a lethal submarine strike to expand the war zone without prior notice,” he said.

Similarly, former foreign secretary Kanwal Sibal, generally seen as supportive of the government, stressed that MILAN is meant to build trust and promote “a free, open, inclusive and rules-based maritime order.” He said the Iranian frigate had been hosted by the Indian Navy and added that “the spirit of the MILAN exercise has been violated by this US action… all this is not helpful.”

Security analyst Brahma Chellaney argued that striking a ship returning from an Indian-hosted event effectively turned the country’s maritime neighborhood into a conflict zone. He said the move “violated the unwritten code of naval hospitality,” warning it could deter other navies from participating in Indian exercises.

Meanwhile, Praveen Swami, contributing editor at ThePrint, said prior notification to India and Iran “would have been the decent thing,” allowing the ship to seek shelter. Both he and Chellaney noted that while international waters permit freedom of navigation, wartime conduct is still governed by humanitarian obligations under the Geneva Conventions, including efforts to rescue survivors. According to the opinion, the US submarine left the area, with rescue operations reportedly handled by Sri Lanka Navy.