India Facilitates Repatriation of Iranian Sailors from IRIS Lavan Docked in Kochi

The Iranian naval vessel IRIS Lavan docked at Kochi port on March 4 due to technical issues amid escalating Middle East tensions. India granted emergency docking on humanitarian grounds and has accommodated the 183 crew members at naval facilities. India is now facilitating the repatriation of most sailors via a chartered flight, which also carried bodies of 84 sailors from the IRIS Dena, sunk by a US submarine near Sri Lanka. Diplomatic talks between India and Iran continue amid regional security concerns.