Confusion Over Iranian Warship Anchoring in India After Statement by Foreign Minister

Confusion has arisen over the anchoring of an Iranian warship in India following a statement by India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. The confusion stems from remarks he made on Monday while addressing both houses of the Indian Parliament about the situation in West Asia.

In his statement, Jaishankar said, “An Iranian ship has anchored in Kochi, and members would naturally be interested to know about it. Iran requested India on February 28 to allow three of its ships in this region to anchor at Indian ports. Permission was granted on March 1.”

His statement suggests that India approved the request for all three ships to anchor. However, in the next sentence he said, “The ship IRIS Lavan anchored in Kochi on March 4. All its crew members are currently staying at an Indian naval facility. We believe this was the right decision. Iran’s foreign minister has thanked India on behalf of his country for this humanitarian gesture.”

The remarks appear somewhat ambiguous. While Jaishankar clearly confirmed the presence of the ship IRIS Lavan in Kochi, he had earlier indicated that permission had been granted for three Iranian ships to anchor. However, he did not mention the other two vessels afterward.

Despite Iran requesting shelter for three ships, Jaishankar did not explain why only one ship was allowed to anchor. He also did not clarify the status or location of the other two vessels.

Opposition parties in the Lok Sabha had demanded a discussion on the ongoing conflict in West Asia. However, their request was not accepted, leading to loud protests in the house. Amid the commotion, Jaishankar delivered his statement.

In his address, Jaishankar outlined India’s position on three key issues.

First, he said India has always supported peace and believes that problems should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy. India hopes the parties involved will return to that path.

He added that India wants tensions to de-escalate and urged all sides to exercise restraint while ensuring the safety of civilians.

Second, he emphasized that ensuring the safety of Indian nationals living in the region is the government’s top priority. The government will continue working with authorities in those countries to ensure their security.

Third, he stressed the importance of protecting national interests, including energy security and trade.

Alongside safeguarding national interests, the government’s main concern is the safety of Indians stranded abroad and arranging their return home. Jaishankar highlighted this in detail in his statement.

He said about 10 million Indians live in Gulf countries. Since the start of the crisis, the government has issued multiple advisories regarding their safety. Indians living in Iran were asked several times to leave the country, though many ignored the warnings.

According to Jaishankar, around 67,000 people have already returned to India from various West Asian countries. The government is continuing efforts to ensure the safety of the remaining citizens and to bring back those who are stranded.