India to repatriate non-essential crew of Iranian warship IRIS Lavan in Kochi

Kochi: India is set to repatriate the non-essential crew of an Iranian warship currently docked here, as New Delhi navigates a complex diplomatic landscape during the deepening military confrontation between Iran and the United States.

According to authoritative sources, a contingent of Iranian sailors is scheduled to depart India via a Turkish airline flight within the coming hours, pending the aircraft’s planned arrival in Kochi.

The vessel, the IRIS Lavan, was granted emergency docking privileges on March 1 after Iranian officials reported urgent technical malfunctions. The ship has been stationed in Kochi since March 4, with its 183 crew members, many of whom are young naval cadets, housed at Indian naval installations in the city.

Officials indicated that while the majority of the personnel will be sent home, a skeleton crew will remain on-site while the warship undergoes repairs. The repatriated sailors are expected to fly to Armenia before completing the final leg of their journey to Iran by road.

The move to return the crew comes as India intensifies efforts to protect its maritime interests. New Delhi is currently working to secure safe passage for more than 28 Indian-flagged merchant vessels presently stalled near the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

Reflecting the urgency of the situation, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held a telephone consultation with his Iranian counterpart, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, on Thursday night. The call marked the fourth such high-level discussion between the two ministers since the regional crisis erupted.

With inputs from PTI