New Delhi, Mar 7: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Saturday defended India’s decision to permit an Iranian ship, recently struck by the United States, to enter Indian waters and dock at Kochi, describing the incident as a case where the vessel had “got caught on the wrong side of events.”
Speaking at the Raisina Dialogue 2026, Jaishankar said India acted on humanitarian grounds after receiving a request from Iran that the vessel was facing difficulties in the Indian Ocean.
“We received a message from the Iranian side that one of their ships, closest to our borders at that time, was encountering problems and requested entry. We allowed it to come in on March 1, and it took a few days to dock at Kochi,” he explained, noting that many young naval cadets were onboard.
Originally intended for a fleet review, Jaishankar noted that “circumstances changed dramatically as tensions escalated in the region,” resulting in the ship being unexpectedly involved in the conflict.
He also referred to a parallel situation in Sri Lanka, where authorities made a different decision regarding a similar vessel, which did not survive the circumstances.
Jaishankar emphasized that India’s approach was guided primarily by humanitarian considerations, rather than legal or geopolitical disputes. “We approached the situation from the point of view of humanity, other than whatever the legal issues were, and I think we did the right thing,” he said.
Addressing online debates, he urged observers to understand the broader strategic realities of the Indian Ocean, citing longstanding foreign military presences, including the US base at Diego Garcia and the growing importance of ports like Djibouti and Hambantota.