US Strike on Iranian Warship Raises Indian Ocean Tensions; Rahul Gandhi Questions PM Modi’s Silence
Commenting on the reported U.S. strike on the Iranian warship IRIS Dena, Rahul Gandhi questioned the silence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He argued that the situation reflects a weakening of India’s strategic autonomy and suggests that the conflict in West Asia is moving closer to India’s sphere of concern. According to him, the incident also raises serious questions about India’s energy security and the direction of its foreign policy.
Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, on Thursday once again targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of remaining silent after an alleged U.S. submarine attack sank the Iranian warship IRIS Dena near Sri Lanka. The warship was reportedly returning after participating in International Fleet Review 2026 in Visakhapatnam and MILAN 2026 naval exercise.
In a post on X, Gandhi said that the conflict in West Asia has now reached India’s backyard and criticized the prime minister for what he described as a lack of response during a critical moment. He argued that the country needs steady leadership but instead has a prime minister who, in his view, has compromised India’s strategic autonomy.
Gandhi also expressed concern over the possible impact of rising tensions in the Gulf region on India’s energy security. He pointed out that more than 40% of India’s oil imports pass through the Strait of Hormuz, warning that disruptions there could threaten the country’s energy supply. He added that the situation could be even more serious for LPG and LNG imports.
Former Indian Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal also commented on the issue, noting that the Iranian vessel had attended the naval events in India at New Delhi’s invitation. He said the U.S. strike ignored India’s sensitivities, as the ship was present in those waters because it had been invited to participate in the exercises.
In a post on X, Sibal said that under the protocol of the naval exercises, participating ships are not allowed to carry ammunition, meaning the vessel was unarmed. He added that Iranian naval personnel had even taken part in ceremonial events before India’s president. According to him, the attack appeared to be premeditated because the United States was aware of the ship’s presence during the exercise. The U.S. Navy had been invited to participate in the drills but reportedly withdrew at the last minute, possibly due to the planned operation.
Sibal further stated that while India cannot be held politically or militarily responsible for the U.S. action, it does bear a moral and humanitarian responsibility. He suggested that, with political approval, the Indian Navy should express condolences for the loss of lives of sailors who had attended the exercises as India’s guests.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi warned that the United States would regret its action of destroying the Iranian warship with a torpedo in the Indian Ocean.