Survivor's Account of US Submarine Attack on Iranian Warship IRIS Dena
Survivor Shares Gripping Details of the Attack
A sailor who survived the sinking of the Iranian warship IRIS Dena has recounted a chilling narrative of the US submarine assault that resulted in the deaths of 104 crew members last month in the Indian Ocean. Hamed Momeneh, one of the 32 sailors rescued, revealed to Iranian media that the attack was sudden and aimed at annihilating everyone aboard. He stated, “It was around 3:00 to 3:30 a.m. when we were unexpectedly attacked.” Momeneh emphasized that the strike was a blatant violation of international maritime laws, noting that the area was not a conflict zone and no prior warning was given. The attack was executed by a submarine.
According to him, the first torpedo struck while all 104 crew members were at their stations. “Fortunately, there were no casualties from the first strike,” he remarked. “If their intention was merely to damage the ship, they could have targeted other areas. Their primary objective was to eliminate the crew.” Momeneh mentioned that none of the sailors abandoned the vessel, stating, “For us, the Dena represented the soil of Iran. Leaving it held no significance.” He added, “Everyone stood their ground until the end.”
A narrative of an unjust attack by the United States on the IRIS Dena warship in the Indian Ocean“Hamed Momeneh,” one of the sailors on the Dena warship:This vessel had been sent to the port of Visakhapatnam in India to take part in a naval exercise. While returning home, and… pic.twitter.com/yFmk8Hwf1N
— Iran in India (@Iran_in_India) April 19, 2026
The crew reportedly remained with the ship until around 11 p.m., after which they had to leap into the ocean and swim towards the Sri Lankan shore. The IRIS Dena was hit by an MK-48 torpedo launched from a US submarine on March 4th, while it was navigating approximately 40 nautical miles northwest of Galle, Sri Lanka. This incident occurred following the ship's participation in the Annual Indian Navy Maritime Exercises MILAN. Out of the 104 crew members, 87 bodies were later recovered, while 32 sailors were rescued. The dramatic account from the Iranian sailor was disseminated by a local news agency and emphasized by the Iranian embassy, amid escalating tensions between the US and Iran following recent regional conflicts. The US military has yet to respond to the sailor's allegations.