US attack on IRIS Dena near Sri Lanka a violation of humanitarian law - Iranian Ambassador

During a special press briefing at the Iranian Embassy in Colombo, Iranian Ambassador Dr. Alireza Delkhosh made serious claims about recent tensions between Iran and the United States. He stated that these tensions increased on 28 February 2026, when Iran was reportedly in talks with the U.S. Dr. Delkhosh accused the United States, along with Israel, of launching military operations against Iranian territory during this time. He specifically mentioned attacks on civilian sites, including a girls’ school in Minab and the assassination of the Islamic Republic's leader at his residence. The Ambassador claimed that these strikes hit schools, hospitals, places of worship, and other public areas, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of civilians. He also raised concerns about the lack of action from the United Nations Security Council. Citing international law, he stated that Iran was exercising its “inherent right of self-defense” as outlined in Article 15.1 of the United Nations Charter. He noted that Iran took targeted actions against military sites associated with the United States and Israel, stressing that these actions were defensive. Dr. Delkhosh referred to an event in March 2026, where he alleged that the IRIS Dena, an Iranian military ship, was attacked near Sri Lankan waters while returning from the Milan 2026 naval exercise, resulting in the deaths of 104 unarmed sailors.