New Delhi: US President Donald Trump said American forces have been sinking Iranian naval vessels during the ongoing conflict rather than capturing them, claiming military personnel believe destroying the ships is both safer and more effective.
Speaking about the military campaign involving the United States and Israel against Iran, Trump described a conversation with US personnel in which they explained their preference for destroying enemy vessels. According to him, military officials said sinking the ships was safer and even more appealing than seizing them.
Trump said the joint operation with Israel was delivering a powerful blow to Iran’s military infrastructure and weakening the country’s ability to conduct attacks. He claimed that Iran’s drone and missile capabilities were being heavily degraded as the campaign continued.
The US President also asserted that Iran’s naval forces had suffered major losses, stating that dozens of Iranian ships had already been destroyed during the conflict.
The remarks come amid sharply conflicting accounts from Washington and Tehran over the sinking of the Iranian warship IRIS Dena earlier this month in the Indian Ocean near Sri Lanka.
According to American officials, the vessel was struck by a torpedo fired from a US submarine in international waters on March 4. However, Iranian authorities have disputed the circumstances of the attack, insisting the ship was not engaged in combat operations.
Iranian officials said the vessel had been returning home after participating in a multinational naval exercise and claimed it was operating in a noncombat role when it was hit. Tehran has strongly condemned the incident, calling it an unacceptable act at sea.
Following the attack, the Sri Lankan navy carried out rescue operations and managed to save 32 sailors, while dozens of bodies were recovered from the waters.
The incident has further intensified tensions in the widening conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran. Analysts say the dispute over whether the vessel was armed highlights the growing risks of military confrontations extending beyond the Middle East into major international sea routes.
Meanwhile, two other Iranian naval vessels remain docked in Sri Lanka and India after seeking assistance following the incident.
