Saket K

Opposition parties have criticised the government, comparing the silence to India’s historical positions against the violation of territorial sovereignty and unilateral actions. However, New Delhi’s position is in contrast even to far more recent events in Iran: 1. In January 2020, when the U.S. carried out a targeted assassination strike on Iran’s top General Qasem Soleimani, India called the tensions “alarming”. Days later, Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif travelled to Delhi to attend the Raisina Dialogue, and openly slammed U.S. President Donald Trump for ordering the killing. 2. In May 2024, India ordered a day of mourning over the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Amir Abdollahian in a helicopter crash, and sent then Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar to the funeral. “They will always be remembered as friends of India who contributed immensely to the growth of the India-Iran relationship. Government of India stands in solidarity with the people of Iran at this very difficult time,” EAM Jaishankar wrote in a condolence book at the Iranian Embassy. 3. Within hours of the U.S.’s strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities on June 22, 2025, Prime Minister Modi called Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and expressed “deep concern” over the escalation. After initially hesitating, India even signed on to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS statements later in the year that condemned the U.S. and Israel’s unilateral strikes. 4. During the crisis, Iran made a special exception for India, opening its airspace only to allow planes carrying hundreds of Indian students safely back home.