Israel-US strikes on Iran: Why timing of PM Modi's Jerusalem visit has sparked a chatter

Ahead of Modi’s Feb 25-26 visit, there was a widespread speculation that Israel and possibly the United States would avoid launching any strike on Iran at the time of his official trip

• Israel and US launched strikes on Iran after Modi's Israel visit
• Strikes targeted Iran's missile sites and navy, Trump confirmed
• Modi's Israel visit criticized amid regional tensions

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Israel and the United States on Saturday morning launched an attack on Iran, with the first apparent strike happening near the offices of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Media reports in Iran indicated that attacks took place in multiple locations nationwide, with smoke observed rising from the capital.

In a video message posted on Truth Social, US President Donald Trump confirmed that the country had begun “major combat operations in Iran”.

Describing the operation as targeting Iran’s missile arsenal and seeking to “annihilate” its navy, Trump said the strikes were carried out after multiple US-Israeli warnings against Iran’s pursuit of nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities.

"I do not make this statement lightly. The Iranian regime seeks to kill," Trump said.

The attack came just after Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded his two-day visit to Israel, which took place against the backdrop of mounting regional concerns over the risk of military conflict between the United States and Iran.

During the visit, PM Modi became the first Indian Prime Minister to address Israeli parliament Knesset. In his speech, he described the October 2023 Hamas attack as “barbaric terrorism,” voiced steadfast solidarity with Israel -- saying India stands with it “firmly, with full conviction” -- and underscored the need for united action against terrorism.

Modi’s visit to Israel came as the United States positioned a large naval force off Iran’s coast amid the possibility of strikes on the Islamic Republic, with Washington and Tehran locked in a stalemate over the latter’s nuclear programme. The Pentagon also sent an aircraft carrier to the Mediterranean, heading toward Israel’s shoreline.

Ahead of Modi’s Feb 25-26 visit, there was a widespread speculation that Israel and possibly the United States would avoid launching any strike on Iran at the time of his official trip. The prevailing view among analysts and media commentary was that the presence of a high-profile foreign leader would make an immediate attack risky.

Several reports and analysts suggested that any realistic strike window would open only after Modi’s departure.

Four days before the attack, independent analyst Shanaka Anslem Perera, author of The Ascent Begins, had outlined a specific strike window, arguing that any military action would commence only after Modi left Israel.

“You do not launch a strike on Iran, triggering retaliatory ballistic missiles aimed at Israeli territory, while the leader of 1.4 billion people is standing inside the Knesset,” he wrote. “This means the earliest realistic strike window opens the evening of February 26, after Modi departs. Which is the same day Geneva talks resume,” Perera added.

An Israeli defence official told Reuters that the operation had been planned for months in coordination with Washington, and that the launch date was decided weeks ago. Even though not directly linked, it aligns with earlier predictions that that action, if taken, would come post Modi’s visit.

In his speech to Israeli lawmakers, Modi vaguely spoke about the challenges facing stability in the region, acknowledging that the landscape had become more challenging in recent years, but made no mention of the US military build-up, or of Iran. He backed the US plan to end the war in Gaza, telling the parliament that it could lead to peace "for all people of the region, including by addressing the Palestinian issue."

"The road to peace is not always easy. But India joins you and the world for dialogue, peace and stability in this region," Modi said.

Back home, Modi’s visit has drawn criticism from the opposition, which said the attack was “fully expected” given the military build-up in the last few months. “Two days after Mr Modi celebrated his visit to Israel, Israel and the US have begun their joint assault on Iran. This was fully expected given their military build-up in the last few months,” Congress leader Jairam Ramesh wrote on X.

“Mr Modi nevertheless chose to go to Israel, where he displayed the highest moral cowardice. He declared that India stood with Israel and got himself an award for saying so. This Israel visit was shameful and it is even more so in light of the war that has been launched by two of Mr. Modi’s 'good friends’,” he stated.