NEW DELHI: India has refrained from condemning the assassination of Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei, even as it has criticised Iranian strikes on Gulf countries and called for restraint, dialogue and de-escalation in West Asia.The calibrated response has drawn sharp political reactions at home, with Congress Parliamentary party chairperson Sonia Gandhi terming the government’s silence an “abdication” rather than neutrality. In an opinion piece in The Indian Express, she said India’s lack of a clear response to the killing “signals tacit endorsement of this tragedy” and called for a discussion in Parliament.
Govt response: Restraint, not endorsement
The ministry of external affairs (MEA) has limited its public position to urging “restraint, dialogue and de-escalation.” Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken to leaders across the Gulf, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Jordan, condemning attacks on their territories and emphasising the safety of the nearly 10 million Indians living in the region.India has not condemned the US-Israel strikes that reportedly killed Khamenei, nor has it issued condolences. Government sources indicate that sovereign responses are guided by national interest, including energy security, diaspora welfare and strategic partnerships in the Gulf.
A history of public criticism
Khamenei had repeatedly commented on India’s internal matters over the past decade, prompting diplomatic protests from New Delhi.In 2017, he called on the Muslim world to support what he described as “oppressed Muslims of Kashmir.” After the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019, he publicly urged India to adopt a “just policy” on Kashmir, following which the MEA summoned the Iranian envoy.During the January 2020 debate over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), Iran’s parliament speaker criticised the law as “anti-Muslim discrimination,” remarks India rejected as interference. In March 2020, amid the Delhi riots, Khamenei tweeted that India should “confront extremist Hindus,” described the violence as a “massacre of Muslims,” and warned of “isolation from the world of Islam,” using the hashtag #IndianMuslimsInDanger. The MEA again summoned the Iranian ambassador.As recently as September 2024, Khamenei placed India alongside Myanmar and Gaza in a social media post, drawing an official response from the MEA calling the remarks “misinformed and unacceptable.”
Gulf priorities and strategic alignment
India’s sharper condemnation has been directed at Iranian strikes targeting Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia and the UAE, countries that are key energy suppliers and host large Indian communities. PM Modi, in separate conversations, stressed the importance of restoring regional peace and thanked Gulf leaders for ensuring the well-being of Indians.External affairs minister S Jaishankar also spoke to counterparts from all six GCC nations after hostilities escalated, underscoring India’s stakes in regional stability.India’s strategic engagement with the Gulf has deepened significantly over the past decade, spanning energy, defence, maritime security and connectivity. This has coincided with a relatively cautious approach towards Tehran.
Past voting record on Iran
India’s Iran policy has shifted over time. Between 2005 and 2009, the Congress-led UPA government voted against Iran at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on three occasions during negotiations over the India-US civil nuclear agreement. In 2022, the NDA government abstained on a similar IAEA resolution concerning Iran’s nuclear programme.
Political divide at home
Sonia Gandhi argued that the assassination of a sitting head of state during ongoing negotiations marks a “grave rupture in contemporary international relations” and said India’s response raises “serious doubts” about the credibility of its foreign policy.The government has not directly responded to her remarks. Officially, India maintains that it has consistently called for peace and stability in MIddle East.With tensions escalating across the region following coordinated US-Israeli strikes and Iranian retaliation, New Delhi’s public messaging remains measured, condemning attacks on its Gulf partners, avoiding direct comment on Tehran’s leadership, and reiterating its position in favour of diplomacy.