Iranian Frigate Sunk by U.S. Submarine in South of Sri Lanka, Over 80 Killed Xinhua News Agency reported on March 17, 2026, citing Iranian media outlets including Mehr News Agency, that Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, had written a handwritten tribute to the sailors who died when the Iranian frigate "Dehnav" was sunk by a U.S. submarine. The message stated that the bravery of the fallen crew would be remembered by Iranians and serve as a foundation for the country’s military development. The frigate "Dehnav" was attacked in the South China Sea near Sri Lanka on March 1, according to the report. The U.S. submarine launched a torpedo that sank the vessel, resulting in the deaths of over 80 personnel. Separately, Israeli media reported on March 17 that Israeli forces conducted an air strike on Larijani’s location on March 16. Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz claimed Larijani had been killed in the attack. However, Iranian officials stated that information from Larijani would be released within minutes, though it remains unclear whether this communication was the handwritten tribute mentioned earlier.#iran #united_states #sri_lanka #iranian_frigate #dehnav
