India quietly granted shelter to Iranian amphibious vessel IRIS Lavan at Kochi as a “humanitarian” move days before – and then on the same day – sister ship IRIS Dena was torpedoed and sunk by a U.S. submarine off Sri Lanka, killing 87 sailors. Government sources said that Iran approached India on 28 February seeking urgent permission for IRIS Lavan (in the region for the International Fleet Review/MILAN) to dock at Kochi after developing “technical issues.” Approval was granted on 1 March, and IRIS Lavan docked on 4 March, with its 183‑member crew accommodated at Indian naval facilities in Kochi.