India Condolences Iran Khamenei: India finally condoles killing of Iran’s Khamenei; foreign ministers talk | India News
New Delhi: Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri signed a book of condolence on behalf of the Indian government and people at the Iranian embassy on Thursday after the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on February 28 amid criticism of India’s silence.External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spoke to his counterpart Abbas Araghchi and posted about “Telecon” on X, without elaborating. Aragchi said earlier in the day that the Iranian warship destroyed by the US submarine was a guest of the Indian Navy.In what could be the first high-level contact between the two sides since the war began on Friday, Tehran sought a meeting for visiting Deputy Foreign Minister Said Khatibzadeh. It is said that Egypt may meet the minister in India at the Raisina Dialogue.After signing the condolence book, Misri met with the Iranian ambassadorTehran had hoped that India would mourn Khamenei’s assassination if not condemn the US-Israeli attack on Iran. After signing the book, Misri held a brief meeting with Iranian Ambassador Mohammad Fatali.Russian Ambassador Denis Alipov and Pakistan’s Charge d’Affaires Saad Ahmad Waraich were the first to sign the condolence book in the morning. In his message, Misri expressed condolences on behalf of the Government and people of India. He said, we wish the soul of the deceased to rest in peace. However, in 2024, after the death of the then President of Iran Ibrahim Raisi, Jaishankar himself went to the embassy to sign the condolence book. India also declared a day of national mourning.Misri signed the book on the first day of the inauguration but India was criticized by the opposition for not expressing its condolences for Khamenei, who was killed on Saturday. India has always had mixed feelings about Khamenei who has supported the Indian government’s efforts to address regional interests, particularly for connectivity through the Chabahar port, but has annoyed India on several occasions with his “misinformed and unacceptable” statements about Jammu and Kashmir and Muslims in India.Khamenei met Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he traveled to Tehran in 2016 for the first bilateral visit to Iran by an Indian Prime Minister in 15 years. The Indian External Affairs Ministry described the meeting as a rare honor for the Prime Minister.Iran has also denied that it is indiscriminately attacking Gulf countries where around 10 million Indians live. Mohammad Fatali, Iran’s ambassador to India, said, “We have told all our neighbors that we are attacking US bases from where they target us. Iran has good relations with India on historical background and wants to improve the relations further.” “But in this case, all governments and all people are being tested,” he said.According to Iranian authorities, Tehran has always wanted to maintain strong ties with India and does not want the relationship to be influenced by any third country. It also maintains that no country should cherry-pick international law.Iran is also non-committal about the safe passage of Indian or other tankers through the Strait of Hormuz as it believes its action will depend on certain conditions. Iran has made official communications to its neighbors that US bases would be legitimate targets if Iran was attacked by the Trump administration. Tehran disputes that insurance companies and others seeking to avoid war are also to blame for the closure.
