The Dena destroyer became a victim of American “peace.”

One of the most heartbreaking crimes during the recent aggression by the United States and Israel against Iran was the attack on the non‑combat vessel Dena and the tragic martyrdom of Iranian sailors. It was an attack that the media have largely ignored, sinking into near silence.

This vessel had traveled to India for a peace exercise and, according to the rules of the exercise, it was not equipped with any weapons. Its only “mistake” was participating in a drill intended to promote global peace—an exercise attended by 70 countries, including the United States.

Yet in the end, the efforts of these Iranian student sailors to contribute to peace in the world turned them into victims of that very peace.

A total of 104 unarmed Iranian students, instructors, and commanders were killed while returning from their mission to promote peace. They were in international waters, far from their homeland, when they were attacked by the United States without any prior warning.

The most painful part of the story is that the attack happened in two stages. After the first torpedo struck, surviving crew members were struggling to launch lifeboats and save themselves. At that moment, a second torpedo was fired by the United States to ensure that no sailor would leave the ship alive.

This clear and sudden act of violence by the United States—while it claims to champion peace in the world—against a completely illegitimate target stands as a warning to any nation that seeks independence and progress. It shows that if countries oppose the hegemonic positions of the United States, not only military personnel but even ordinary people can become its targets.