India dismisses Pakistan-backed disinformation alleging it shared the location of Iranian warship IRIS Dena with Israel following the vessel’s sinking in the Indian Ocean.
Maritime News, News Delhi, India : The Government of India has dismissed claims circulating from Pakistani sources alleging that New Delhi shared the location of the Iranian naval vessel IRIS Dena with Israel, calling the allegations part of a coordinated disinformation campaign aimed at undermining India’s credibility.
The clarification follows reports that the Iranian warship was sunk in the Indian Ocean off Sri Lanka on March 4, in an incident that reportedly killed at least 87 sailors.
Officials said misleading narratives were being spread through manipulated videos and fabricated claims suggesting India had provided intelligence about the vessel’s movements.
Deepfake Video Flagged by PIB Fact Check
India’s Press Information Bureau (PIB) Fact Check unit flagged a viral clip circulating on social media as a deepfake video that falsely showed Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi claiming India had informed Israel about the ship’s location.
“Deepfake Video Alert,” PIB Fact Check posted, warning that propaganda accounts were spreading an AI-generated video to mislead viewers.
“Beware! This is an AI-generated deepfake video shared to mislead the public,” the PIB statement said, adding that General Dwivedi had made no such statement.
Authorities said the false narrative was part of a broader attempt to spread misinformation during a period of rising geopolitical tension.
Incident Linked to IRIS Dena Sinking Near Sri Lanka
The controversy comes in the aftermath of reports that the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena, which had earlier participated in the Milan International Fleet Review 2026 hosted by the Indian Navy in Visakhapatnam, was torpedoed by a US submarine in international waters near Galle.
Iranian officials said the ship had approximately 130 personnel on board when it was struck.
Search and rescue operations reportedly saved around 30 sailors, who were taken to Karapitiya Hospital in Sri Lanka for treatment.
The rescue effort involved the Sri Lanka Navy and the Sri Lanka Air Force, which coordinated maritime and aerial operations in the area.
Iran Condemns Strike
Iran reacted strongly to the reported attack.
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Aragchi condemned the incident as an “atrocity at sea,” warning that the United States would “bitterly regret” the strike.
The episode has added another layer of tension to an already volatile regional security environment.
Strategic Concerns for the Indian Ocean Region
Security analysts say the incident highlights the growing geopolitical significance of the Indian Ocean as a strategic theatre of conflict.
Strategic affairs expert Nitin A. Gokhale said the incident suggests that “escalation has now spread to the Indian Ocean and closer to India’s maritime sphere.”
Retired naval officer Abhijit Singh noted that regional states face increasing diplomatic and operational challenges in maintaining neutrality during conflicts involving major powers.
He cautioned that offering harbour or logistical support to a warship during wartime could be interpreted as taking sides in a broader conflict.
India Emphasises Neutrality and Maritime Safety
India’s Ministry of Defence confirmed that it responded to the vessel’s distress signal by initiating search-and-rescue assistance, in line with international maritime conventions.
However, officials firmly rejected any suggestion that India was involved in the attack or had shared intelligence related to the vessel.
Authorities said the government continues to monitor developments closely, given the potential implications for regional maritime security and global shipping routes.
