Former President Donald Trump has sparked international condemnation by openly admitting that the U.S. Navy deliberately sank an unarmed Iranian frigate in the Indian Ocean simply because it was “more fun” than capturing the vessel. The March 4 attack on IRIS Dena resulted in the deaths of 104 Iranian sailors and injured 32 others, according to Iran’s state media.
The warship was returning from the Milan Peace 2026 naval exercises hosted by India when an American submarine torpedoed it approximately 2,000 miles from the Persian Gulf. Both Iranian and Indian officials have confirmed the vessel was unarmed and operating in a purely ceremonial capacity during the multinational drills.
During a gathering hosted by the Congressional Institute, Trump recounted his conversation with military officials about the incident. He expressed initial frustration about destroying what he called a “top-of-the-line” vessel, questioning why they didn’t capture it instead. According to Trump, an unidentified official responded that sinking ships was “more fun” and “safer,” prompting laughter from both the audience and the former president.
The incident has been described by political commentator Adam Schwarz as “the most blasé admission of a war crime by a US president in history.” International law experts note that while attacking military ships might technically be legal under naval warfare rules, the stated motivation of doing it for “fun” raises serious ethical and legal concerns.
Phyllis Bennis of the Institute for Policy Studies emphasized that failing to rescue survivors constitutes a clear violation of the Second Geneva Convention. The 32 survivors and numerous bodies were eventually recovered by a Sri Lankan joint rescue operation following a distress call.
The attack occurs within the broader context of escalating US-Israel military actions against Iran that have reportedly killed at least 1,255 people, including 200 children and 11 healthcare workers. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has previously stated the US would not abide by “stupid rules of engagement” in the campaign against Iran.
Journalist Mark Ames characterized the attack as demonstrating “sadistic pleasure” in tormenting those who can’t fight back. Bennis further argued that the entire US campaign against Iran represents the “supreme international crime” of aggression under Nuremberg principles, as it lacks UN Security Council authorization or justification as self-defense.