MAN – Iran has commiserated with Russia over a deadly fire that struck a submarine on Monday, killing dozens of sailors onboard.

In a statement on Wednesday, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Seyyed Abbas Mousavi expressed condolences with the Russian government, nation and the families of the victims of the accident.

Fourteen submariners on board a Russian Defense Ministry research submersible were killed in a fire while carrying out a survey of the seafloor in the Russian territorial waters.

The victims included seven Captain First Rank officers – the most senior staff officers in the Russian navy. Two on board the ill-fated research vessel had been previously awarded the nation’s highest honorary title – the Hero of Russia.