New Delhi

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Saturday said the Iranian naval vessel IRIS Lavan continues to remain docked at Kochi in Kerala, while non-essential crew members and other stranded Iranian nationals have departed India on a chartered flight arranged by Iranian authorities.

Addressing an inter-ministerial briefing on developments in West Asia, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the flight departed from Kochi and carried non-essential members of the crew of IRIS Lavan along with several Iranian nationals who had been stranded in India due to widespread flight disruptions caused by the ongoing conflict.

“Owing to the widespread flight disruption, several Iranians were stranded in India. The Iranian authorities arranged chartered flights to take back these stranded nationals,” Jaiswal said.

“The flight took off from Kochi and also included the non-essential members of IRIS Lavan, which remains docked in Kochi,” he added.

The vessel had earlier participated in the International Fleet Review 2026 held from February 15 to 25 and was in the region for the multinational naval exercise MILAN 2026.

According to officials, the ship sought urgent docking assistance after developing technical issues. The request from Iran was received on February 28, and approval for docking was granted on March 1. The vessel has been docked at Kochi since March 4.

The development comes days after the sinking of another Iranian naval vessel, IRIS Dena, which was reportedly struck by a submarine torpedo about 20 nautical miles west of Galle in Sri Lanka on March 4.

Commenting on the broader regional situation, Jaiswal said India has consistently called for de-escalation since the conflict began.

“Since the outbreak of this conflict, besides calling for de-escalation and addressing all issues through dialogue, India has continually emphasised that one of its priorities is to ensure the unimpeded transit of goods and energy,” he said.

He also stressed the importance of avoiding attacks on civilian infrastructure, including energy facilities, noting that the effects of the conflict are being felt globally.

Jaiswal said India has been in contact with key stakeholders, including members of the Gulf Cooperation Council, as well as Iran, the United States and Israel, at both political and diplomatic levels to address concerns over energy security.

“In the process, the concerns of shipping lines were also addressed. As a result of multiple contacts, some ships destined for India have been able to cross through the Strait of Hormuz,” he said.

He noted that two Indian vessels, INS Shivalik and INS Nanda Devi, have already crossed the strait and are heading toward Indian ports, while several other ships remain on standby in the Gulf region.

Jaiswal added that India would continue coordinating with relevant countries to ensure the safe and uninterrupted movement of shipping and energy supplies.

On discussions within BRICS regarding the conflict, he said efforts to arrive at a common position have been complicated because some member states, including Iran and the United Arab Emirates, are directly involved in the current crisis.

He added that as the current chair of BRICS, India has been facilitating discussions among member states through the Sherpa channel, with the latest virtual Sherpa meeting held on March 12.

The conflict in West Asia began on February 28 after the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in joint strikes by the United States and Israel. Iran subsequently launched retaliatory attacks targeting US and Israeli assets across the Gulf region, disrupting maritime traffic and affecting global energy markets.

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Amid the hostilities, Iran has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical energy transit routes.