Israel-Iran conflict: Iranian ship IRIS Lavan likely to stay in Kochi port for a while, triggers public curiosity

The docking of Iranian naval vessel IRIS Lavan at the Kochi port in Kerala amid Iran’s ongoing conflict with the US and Israel has evoked curiosity among the public. Local people as well as foreign tourists had gathered around the Mattancherry boat jetty on Saturday (March 7, 2026) morning to catch a glimpse of the Iranian ship docked at the Mattancherry wharf of the port. Many were seen clicking photos of the ship docked across the waters.

News channels had also deployed their crews on the premises of the boat jetty for live streaming of the development during their morning bulletins.

A view of the Iranian ship IRIS Lavan docked in Kochi, Kerala, since March 4 after the vessel had developed technical issues. The ship was in India’s territorial waters for the International Fleet Review in Visakhapatnam. Its crew of 183 are currently accommodated at naval facilities in Kochi.
| Photo Credit:
Thulasi Kakkat

The vessel is likely to stay in Kochi for a while with decisions on the repair works awaited, a source said.

The ship has been docked in the port since March 4. As many as 183 crew members have been provided accommodation in the naval facilities in Kochi, according to government sources.

India allowed the urgent docking of an Iranian ship following a request from the Iranian side after the vessel developed urgent technical issues. India was approached by the Iranian side days before Iranian warship IRIS Dena was sunk by a US submarine using a torpedo off the coast of Sri Lanka.

IRIS Lavan, a Hengam class landing ship, was reportedly commissioned in the 1980s.