New Delhi – India formally expressed condolences on the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed on February 28 in a joint US-Israeli strike on Tehran. This marks India’s first formal reaction to the tragic event.
Jaishankar Speaks to Iranian Counterpart
The Minister of External Affairs, S. Jaishankar, spoke to the Foreign Minister of Iran, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, over the phone on Thursday afternoon. In this conversation, Jaishankar expressed his sorrow for the loss of life in the recent Iranian conflict as well as reiterated to Araghchi that maintaining diplomatic relations with Iran remained a priority for both countries at this time.
Additionally, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri visited the Iranian diplomatic mission in New Delhi today and signed the condolence book there on behalf of the Government of India. It can be seen from the images provided that Mr Misri and Mr Araghchi met and spoke, thus communicating to Mr Araghchi that India fully acknowledges and respects the importance of this unfortunate incident.
Prime Minister Modi’s Regional Engagement
In response to escalating conflict in the region following the unrest in the Middle East, Prime Minister Modi has carried out an extensive frontline effort to engage diplomatically with Gulf states over the past few days. He held discussions by phone with the Sultan of Oman and the Crown Prince of Kuwait, both of whom have publicly condemned violence following the recent attacks that occurred there, as well as with the Amir of Qatar, who also condemned violence in his country. Each of these leaders expressed their strong support for continued efforts by the Indian government to ensure safety and security for all their nationals who reside in their respective countries.
Safeguarding Indian Interests
The Arabian Gulf has been the subject of engagement through contacts between Indian leaders and their counterparts in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Israel, and Saudi Arabia, as well as with Jordan, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, and Qatar. Given the substantial Indian population living and working throughout these countries, India has sought to communicate regularly with local officials to ensure that there is no harm done to these Indian nationals as tensions rise between the U.S. & Israel and Iran.
India’s prompt and progressive actions illustrate the focus on maintaining regional stability and regional security. India’s approach seeks to combine sending formal condolence messages with initiating proactive and productive discussions with its international partners in a manner that provides both adequate respect for its international partners and the safety and well-being of its citizens abroad.
India’s actions illustrate a well-balanced, structured, and coordinated approach to international relations and demonstrate India’s ability to be responsive in a manner that is appropriate in our highly volatile climate while protecting its strategic interests.
