U.S. Submarine Sinks Iranian Warship in International Waters

A U.S. attack submarine sank an Iranian naval vessel in international waters using a torpedo, an incident that senior U.S. defense officials say marks the first time since World War II that an American submarine has destroyed a combat ship in such a manner. U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth confirmed the strike during a Pentagon press conference on Wednesday, describing a direct underwater attack against the Iranian warship identified by Tehran as the Iris Dena.

“An American submarine sunk an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters,” Hegseth said. “Instead, it was sunk by a torpedo.” The Pentagon later released video footage of the attack, showing what officials described as a massive explosion near the ship’s stern followed by images indicating the vessel sinking.

According to U.S. military leadership, the strike represents a rare use of submarine torpedoes against an active surface combatant in wartime conditions. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine said the operation was historically notable. It was, he said, “the first time a US attack submarine had used a torpedo to sink a combat ship since 1945.” The reference appears tied to late World War II naval engagements involving U.S. submarines such as the USS Torsk, which destroyed several Japanese combat ships during operations in 1945.

The sinking triggered a large-scale search and rescue operation after the vessel issued a distress signal early Wednesday morning. Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath told parliament that authorities received the call at precisely 5.08 a.m. local time. “A vessel belonging to the Iranian Navy by the name of Iris Dena, was sinking is what we know based on the distress call which we received at 5.08 a.m.,” he said.

Sri Lanka’s navy responded rapidly. By 6 a.m., boats were dispatched to the location while the Sri Lankan Air Force joined the rescue operation from the air. Officials said the response was initiated less than one hour after the initial emergency signal was received.

Sri Lankan authorities reported recovering at least 87 bodies from the water while rescuing 32 survivors. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said roughly 130 personnel were believed to have been aboard the ship when the distress call was transmitted. The casualty figures indicate the majority of the crew were either killed or missing following the explosion and sinking.

Iran reacted sharply to the incident, accusing Washington of committing a major act of aggression. Tehran identified the vessel as the Iris Dena and vowed retaliation. “The US has perpetrated an atrocity at sea, 2,000 miles away from Iran’s shores,” Araghchi wrote on X. “Mark my words: The US will come to bitterly regret precedent it has set.”

The attack also unfolded within the context of a broader U.S. military campaign targeting Iranian naval capabilities. Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command, said in a recorded message Tuesday that American forces had already destroyed more than 17 Iranian vessels since the campaign began over the weekend. The list included surface ships and what he described as “the most operational Iranian submarine that now has a hole in its side.”

Historically, torpedoes have been used by the United States since World War II primarily through aircraft deployment or in non-combat roles. U.S. naval records indicate that in 1951 a U.S. attack squadron launched torpedoes against a dam in South Korea to halt advancing forces. In 1999, a U.S. submarine fired a torpedo to sink an oil tanker after explosives failed to scuttle the vessel. However, the use of a submarine-fired torpedo to destroy an active combat ship in battle had not occurred since 1945, according to U.S. military officials.