Canberra, March 6 -- Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has verified that three Royal Australian Navy members were stationed on a United States submarine that destroyed an Iranian naval vessel earlier this week, ABC News reported.

The Prime Minister maintained that the Australian personnel did not take part in the mission to destroy the IRIS Dena, asserting that the nation's military staff did not "participate in any offensive action" against Tehran.

The Iranian frigate was sunk by a US fast-attack submarine in waters off the coast of Sri Lanka. According to ABC News, Sri Lankan officials stated on Thursday that 87 bodies have been retrieved from the site, while 32 individuals have been rescued.

While Washington has not officia...