India finally expresses condolences over Iran’s killing of Khamenei; foreign minister speaks

New Delhi: Foreign Minister Vikram Misri on Thursday signed a condolence letter on behalf of the Indian government and people at the Iranian embassy following the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on February 28, sparking criticism over India’s silence.External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spoke to External Affairs Minister Abbas Araghchi and posted on X about “telecom” without elaborating. Araghchi had said earlier in the day that the Iranian warship destroyed by a US submarine was a guest of the Indian Navy.On Friday, the two sides are likely to have their first high-level contacts since the war began, with Tehran seeking a meeting with visiting Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh. It is reported that Misri may meet ministers who are coming to India to participate in the Resina Dialogue.After signing the condolence book, Misri meets with the Iranian ambassadorTehran has been hoping that India would express condolences for Khamenei’s killing and even condemn the US-Israeli attack on Iran. After signing the book, Misri met briefly with Iranian Ambassador Mohammad Fatali.Russian Ambassador Denis Alipov and Pakistan’s Charge d’Affaires Saad Ahmed Walaich were among the first to sign the book of condolences when it was opened in the morning. In his message, Misri expressed condolences on behalf of the Indian government and people. “We pray for peace for the departed souls,” he said. However, in 2024, after the death of then-Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi, Jaishankar personally went to the embassy to sign a book of condolences. India later declared a day of national mourning.Misri signed the book on its first day of publication, but the fact that India did not offer condolences for Khamenei, who was killed on Saturday, drew criticism from the opposition. India has always had mixed feelings about Khamenei, who supports efforts to address shared regional interests with the Indian government, especially connectivity through the Chabahar port, but has also repeatedly angered India with his “misleading and unacceptable” remarks about Johnson and Johnson and Indian Muslims.Khamenei met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2016 when he traveled to Tehran for the first bilateral visit by an Indian prime minister to Iran in 15 years. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs described the meeting as a rare honor for the Prime Minister.Iran also denies that it is indiscriminately attacking the Gulf state, home to nearly 10 million Indians. Mohammad Fatali, Iran’s ambassador to India, said: “We are telling all our neighbors that we are attacking their American bases targeting us.” He also said that Iran and India have a good historical background and hope to further improve relations. “But in this situation, all governments and all people face a test,” he said.Iranian authorities have said that Tehran has always sought to maintain strong relations with India and does not want this relationship to be affected by any third country. It also believes that no country should find fault with international law.Iran has also made no commitments about the safe passage of Indian or other oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, as it believes its actions will depend on circumstances. Iran insists it conveyed this message to its neighbors in an official communication: U.S. bases would be legitimate targets if Iran were attacked by the Trump administration. Tehran’s argument is that insurance companies and other companies seeking to avoid war are also responsible for the closure of the strait.