India’s Shame in Modi’s Silence on Khamenei’s Assassination

Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded his Israel visit on February 27, 2026 with visible warmth and strategic symbolism. Within hours, on February 28 , Israel and the United States launched airstrikes on Iran. On the very first day of those strikes, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei , Iran’s Supreme Leader since 1989 , the head of the Iranian state for nearly four decades, was killed in the bombardment.

A sitting head of state. Bombed in a moment.

Forget outrage. Forget shock. There has not been a single word of public consolation from New Delhi to the Iranian nation.

This silence is stark when contrasted with May 20, 2024 , when PM Modi promptly expressed deep sorrow and solidarity after the helicopter crash that killed Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi . He offered heartfelt condolences and declared that India stands with Iran in its time of sorrow . The empathy then was immediate and unequivocal.

Today, after the killing of Iran’s most powerful leader during active airstrikes, that voice is absent.

Instead, the Prime Minister has spoken to leaders across West Asia, expressing concern, solidarity and support for stability. Calls have been made. Assurances conveyed. Yet there has been no public outreach to Tehran or to the Iranian people.

Iran is not an incidental country in India’s foreign policy. It provided India access through Chabahar Port , bypassing Pakistan into Afghanistan and Central Asia. For decades, it was a stable supplier of crude oil . Within the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation , Tehran often maintained a more balanced posture on Kashmir compared to other members.

India once prided itself on strategic autonomy and balanced diplomacy. By appearing closely aligned with the aggressor at a volatile moment , while remaining silent when a neighbouring head of state is killed, New Delhi risks diminishing that legacy.

Diplomacy is not only about partnerships. It is about moral clarity and consistency.

When a leader who ruled for nearly forty years is killed in war, silence is not neutral. It is noticed.