Misri Meets Iran Envoy: India Offers Condolences as US-Iran Maritime Crisis Deepens

India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri visited the Embassy of Iran in New Delhi on Thursday to sign a condolence book following the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. The visit was described as a symbolic diplomatic gesture from the government of India and came at a time when tensions in West Asia and the wider Indian Ocean region remain elevated.

During his visit, Misri met Iran’s Ambassador to India, Mohammad Fathali, and conveyed condolences on behalf of the Indian government. The meeting took place at the Iranian embassy in the national capital and was part of India’s formal diplomatic protocol following the passing of a foreign head of state or senior leader. Officials said the interaction reflected the longstanding diplomatic and cultural ties shared between the two countries.

During the interaction, Ambassador Fathali sharply criticised the United States over recent developments in the Indian Ocean. Referring to rising tensions surrounding an alleged maritime confrontation, he said that the “Americans have broken the negotiating table", suggesting that recent actions had undermined diplomatic efforts and increased instability in the region. His remarks came amid growing international attention on a reported naval incident earlier this week.

Also Read: Iran Claims F-15 Shootdown as US-Israel War Drags World into Second Major Conflict

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi earlier accused the United States of sinking an Iranian naval vessel near Sri Lanka. In a post on social media platform X, Araghchi alleged that the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena had been struck in international waters in the Indian Ocean while operating far from Iran’s coastline. According to Iranian officials, the vessel was carrying nearly 130 sailors at the time of the incident.

Araghchi described the alleged strike as an “atrocity at sea", claiming the vessel had been attacked without warning approximately 2,000 miles from Iranian shores. The foreign minister warned that the United States would “come to bitterly regret the precedent it has set", marking one of the strongest statements yet from Tehran regarding the reported maritime incident. The remarks also represented the first high-level acknowledgement by Iranian authorities about the alleged sinking of the warship.

The government of India has not issued an official statement regarding the maritime incident. However, India and Iran maintain long-standing civilisational and strategic ties, particularly in areas such as energy cooperation, regional connectivity, and security. Analysts say the latest developments could add further complexity to the already fragile geopolitical dynamics in West Asia and the Indian Ocean region as tensions continue to rise between Tehran and Washington.

Also Read: 'Trump Wasn't Going to Sit Back': Why the US Launched Operation Epic Fury Against Iran