(Image source from: x.com/MEAIndia)
Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, representing the Indian government, signed the condolence book for Iran's former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on Thursday. Khamenei, who was 86 years old and had led the Islamic Republic of Iran since 1989, was killed in a joint military operation by the United States and Israel early on Saturday. Misri's signing was part of India’s initial response to the Supreme Leader's passing. Besides Misri, Foreign Minister S Jaishankar also spoke with his Iranian counterpart, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, over the phone. He mentioned this in a post on X. Until then, India had not commented on Khamenei's death. It has also not openly condemned the US and Israeli attacks on Iran, although PM Modi had a discussion with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to emphasize the need to stop the fighting quickly.
Foreign Secretary Shri Vikram Misri visited the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran and signed the condolence book, on behalf of the people and the Government of India, on the demise of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Syed Ali Khamenei. pic.twitter.com/lOODHeI5fm
— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) March 5, 2026
On February 28, the United States and Israel carried out joint airstrikes in Iran, aiming at military sites, government buildings, high-ranking officials' offices, and homes of various political and military leaders. During one of these airstrikes, Khamenei, along with several family members, lost his life. US President Donald Trump was the first to announce Khamenei's death on Truth Social on Saturday night (according to Indian time). He referred to it as a significant opportunity for the Iranian people to regain control of their country, stating on Truth Social, "Khamenei, one of the most evil figures in history, is gone. This isn't just justice for the Iranian people, but also for all great Americans and others around the world who suffered due to Khamenei. " The announcement triggered strong reactions from countries worldwide. While Israel praised the military for its actions, Russia and China quickly condemned the strikes, labeling them a breach of international law.
