The Indian Navy on Thursday said it deployed its long-range P-8I maritime patrol aircraft to assist search and rescue operations for sailors from an Iranian warship that was sunk off Sri Lanka’s coast. The Iranian frigate IRIS Dena went down a day earlier after being torpedoed by a U.S. submarine while operating near Sri Lanka. The ship had been returning home after participating in the Milan multilateral naval exercise hosted by India. At least 87 Iranian sailors were killed in the attack, which has further escalated tensions between the United States and Iran beyond the Persian Gulf, reports PTI.

In a statement, the Indian Navy said Sri Lanka had initiated rescue operations after receiving a distress call early Wednesday.

The frigate was operating about 20 nautical miles west of Galle in waters under Sri Lanka’s responsibility when the incident occurred, the Navy said.

India said it launched search and rescue efforts at around 10 a.m. to support the operation led by Sri Lanka.

“Another aircraft with air droppable life rafts was also kept standby for immediate deployment. INS Tarangini which was operating in vicinity was deployed for aiding the rescue efforts and arrived in search area by 4 pm,” the Navy said.

“By this time search and rescue had been undertaken by Sri Lankan Navy and other agencies,” it added.

The Navy also said another Indian vessel, INS Ikshak, sailed from Kochi to support the search operation and remains in the area looking for missing personnel.

“Coordination with the Sri Lankan side on Search and Rescue efforts is ongoing,” the Navy said.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi condemned the sinking of the warship.

“The US has perpetrated an atrocity at sea, 2,000 miles away from Iran's shores. Frigate Dena, a guest of India's Navy carrying almost 130 sailors, was struck in international waters without warning,” he wrote on social media. “Mark my words: The U.S. will come to bitterly regret precedent it has set,” he added.

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