Amid escalating tensions in West Asia, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has directly questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi's stance on the assassination of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Gandhi urged Modi to clarify whether he supports the killing of a head of state as a means to shape the global order.

The assassination occurred on 28 February 2026, when the United States and Israel launched targeted strikes on high-ranking Iranian officials in Tehran. Iranian state media confirmed Khamenei's death the following day, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing US-Israel-Iran conflict.

Khamenei, who had led Iran for over three decades since 1989, was killed alongside other senior figures, including IRGC commanders and advisors. US President Donald Trump publicly confirmed the operation and called on Iranians to rise against their leadership.

In response, Iran launched counterattacks on US and Israeli installations across the Middle East, including strikes on the UAE. This has heightened fears of a wider regional war, affecting millions, including nearly a crore of Indians in the region.

Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, posted on X emphasising that both unilateral attacks on Iran and Iran's retaliations must be condemned. He stressed dialogue, restraint, and India's commitment to sovereignty and peaceful dispute resolution as core foreign policy principles.

Gandhi warned that Modi's silence diminishes India's global standing and demanded a morally clear position defending international law and human lives. He highlighted the crisis's potential to push the fragile region towards broader conflict.

Earlier, Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi criticised the government's response as not neutral but an abdication of responsibility. In an article, she described the assassination—occurring without a formal war declaration and amid negotiations—as a grave violation of the UN Charter and India's constitutional principles under Article 51.

Sonia Gandhi noted Iran's historical support for India on issues like Kashmir and accused the government of tacitly endorsing the strikes by quickly condemning Iran's UAE retaliation while ignoring the initial US-Israeli actions. She called for an open parliamentary debate on India's foreign policy direction when the Budget session resumes.

Prime Minister Modi has expressed deep concern over West Asian instability, stating India stands for peace and de-escalation. In calls with leaders like the UAE President and Israeli PM Netanyahu, he condemned attacks on the UAE and urged an early end to hostilities, though without directly addressing Khamenei's death.

India's Ministry of External Affairs has urged restraint and dialogue, aligning with responses from other major powers focused on national interests. Protests by Shia Muslims over Khamenei's killing have occurred in Indian cities like Lucknow, reflecting domestic sentiments.

The opposition's demands underscore a broader political debate in India, with figures like AIMIM's Asaduddin Owaisi also voicing anger. Meanwhile, some reports indicate celebrations in parts of Iran, complicating the narrative.

This episode raises questions about India's balancing act between ties with Iran, Israel, and Gulf allies amid shifting geopolitics. Gandhi's intervention seeks to reposition Congress as a voice for principled diplomacy rooted in non-alignment.

PTI