India signs condolence book at Iranian embassy, condoles Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's death

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri

In a significant diplomatic posturing, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Friday signed the condolence book at the Embassy of Iran. Misri also condoled the demise of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Khamenei was killed in a joint US-Israeli airstrike on February 28, an incident that has plunged the West Asian region into a war.

The diplomatic overture comes days after an intense political debate, led by the opposition, demanding a formal statement from the government.

Until now, India has maintained a studied silence, opting instead for calls for restraint and de-escalation amid escalating regional tensions. The stance mirrors the response of most major global powers.

#WATCH | Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, on behalf of Government of India, signed the Condolence Book at the Embassy of Iran in New Delhi today, and offered condolences to the slain Supreme Leader of Iran Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. pic.twitter.com/A3IP2d0diX

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— ANI (@ANI) March 5, 2026

Lashing out at the Congress for wanting India to "blindly side with Iran", the BJP on Thursday said the country's foreign policy must be guided by national interest and the safety of its citizens not by the compulsions of the Opposition party's "outdated ideological reflexes".

Several BJP leaders, including Amit Malviya and Pradeep Bhandari, spoke on the issue, calling the Congress "anti-India" and alleging that the main Opposition party pursues divisive politics. It only loves its vote bank, not the country and its people, the ruling party said.

Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India believes in rule of law, dialogue and diplomacy, adding that military conflict is not the resolution to any issue. PM Modi's big remark comes amid the deadly US-Iran conflict which has affected majority of West Asia.