India condoles Khamenei's death, PM says military conflict not a solution

After nearly six days of silence, India has responded to the escalating conflict in West Asia. India conveyed condolences over the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, with Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri visiting the Iranian Embassy in New Delhi to sign the condolence book on behalf of the Government of India. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held a phone conversation with Iran's Foreign Minister Syed Abbas Araqchi. While Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that military confrontation alone cannot resolve global crises, referring to Ukraine and West Asia. The response follows criticism from opposition leaders including Rahul Gandhi who questioned the Prime Minister's silence. With the conflict widening from the Gulf to the Indian Ocean, India is attempting a careful diplomatic approach, calling for dialogue while keeping channels open with Tehran, prioritising de-escalation and regional stability.