India has repatriated non-essential crew members of the Iranian warship IRIS Lavan, which has been docked in Kochi since early March amid rising tensions between Iran and the United States, sources told PTI. More than 50 of the vessel’s 183 sailors stayed back, while the others were flown out of India on a Turkish Airlines flight that landed in Kochi late Friday night. The aircraft had earlier transported the bodies of over 80 Iranian sailors from Colombo who perished when another Iranian warship was reportedly sunk by a US submarine near Sri Lanka on March 4.

The IRIS Lavan had been granted emergency docking approval by Indian authorities on March 1, following urgent technical issues reported by the Iranian side. Since March 4, the warship has remained stationed in Kochi under close monitoring, reflecting New Delhi’s efforts to balance humanitarian and security considerations amid a volatile West Asia situation.

Officials indicated that the remaining Iranian sailors are expected to return to Iran via Armenia, likely travelling overland from Yerevan to Tehran. This phased repatriation underscores India’s diplomatic efforts to maintain neutrality while ensuring the safety of foreign naval personnel within its ports.

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The evacuation also comes as India actively monitors the movement of more than two dozen Indian-flagged merchant vessels navigating the Strait of Hormuz, a strategically critical waterway affected by escalating hostilities in the region. Authorities are coordinating with shipping companies to safeguard commercial shipping and prevent disruptions to energy and trade flows.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has been in direct contact with his Iranian counterpart, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, with Thursday’s conversation marking their fourth interaction since the crisis intensified. The discussions are aimed at ensuring safe maritime operations, monitoring regional developments, and facilitating humanitarian measures like the current repatriation.

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