TEHRAN: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has condemned the attack on the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena, calling it an act of “cowardice” and alleging that the incident amounted to a war crime.
Araghchi made the remarks during a visit to an exhibition displaying belongings left behind by sailors of the Iranian frigate, which Iran says was attacked by a US submarine. According to Iranian officials, 87 bodies were recovered from the sea following the torpedo attack in international waters off the coast of Sri Lanka.
“What happened is undoubtedly a war crime that will be recorded in history,” Araghchi said, claiming that the frigate was targeted “without any military action, without weapons, and without any prior warning.”
He said the incident could not be considered a naval victory, arguing that the attack instead demonstrated the “helplessness” of the opposing side.
“Attacking an unarmed target far from the battlefield is not courageous; rather, it is a sign of cowardice,” Araghchi said, while not directly naming the United States.
The Iranian foreign minister added that the legal department of Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in coordination with the Navy, would gather evidence related to what he described as the attack and pursue all necessary legal actions.