By Paul Joseph
The United States has confirmed that one of its submarines sank an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean with a torpedo, dramatically escalating the ongoing conflict between Washington and Tehran.
At a Pentagon news conference on Wednesday, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the targeted vessel, identified as the Iris Dena, was struck in a precision underwater attack.
Footage of the strike was later released, showing a powerful explosion tearing through the ship before it sank beneath the surface.
According to early reports, approximately 180 people were on board the Iranian vessel at the time of the attack. Sri Lankan authorities said 32 crew members were rescued, while about 80 bodies have so far been recovered. The fate of dozens of others remains unclear.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Caine, said the strike was part of a broader military strategy and warned that the United States would move “progressively deeper into Iranian territory” if necessary.
The sinking comes amid sustained US-Israeli military operations targeting sites inside Iran. Israel said it had struck multiple “security headquarters” across Tehran, while airstrikes reportedly continued overnight.
In Tehran, residents described a worsening situation. “It’s getting worse and worse every day,” one man told reporters, as fears of a prolonged war mount.
A planned three-day funeral ceremony for former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has been postponed amid the heightened security situation.
Israel has also expanded operations into Lebanon, where airstrikes reportedly hit several areas. A Lebanese hotel owner whose property was damaged described scenes of panic as civilians fled targeted neighborhoods.
The conflict appears to be spreading across the Gulf. New attacks, reportedly launched from Iran, were reported in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. Turkey said its “NATO defences” intercepted and shot down an Iranian missile.
The United Kingdom has announced it will deploy a warship to the eastern Mediterranean following attacks on a British military base in Cyprus, though officials said the vessel is not expected to depart this week.
The escalation has raised fears of a broader regional war, with maritime security in the Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf now under intense scrutiny. Analysts warn that further naval confrontations could disrupt global shipping routes and energy supplies.
As live coverage continues and casualty figures are updated, international leaders are urging restraint though military posturing on all sides suggests the conflict may deepen in the coming days.
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