Sonia Gandhi Warns Centre's Silence on Iran Leader's Death Risks India's Global Credibility

Senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi has criticised the Centre’s response to the reported assassination of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, calling the government’s silence an “abdication” rather than neutrality. In a column published in The Indian Express, the former United Progressive Alliance chairperson questioned why India had not issued a clear statement defending sovereignty and international law following the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader.

The Centre has not released a direct statement on Khamenei’s death but has called for restraint and de-escalation in the Middle East. Government sources have indicated that India’s measured stance aligns with that of several major global powers and reflects a diplomatic approach guided by national interest. Gandhi, however, argued that the absence of a categorical response raises concerns about the direction and credibility of India’s foreign policy.

Referring to the targeted strike allegedly carried out by the United States and Israel, Gandhi said the killing of a sitting head of state during ongoing negotiations marked a serious rupture in international relations. She criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for initially condemning Iran’s retaliatory actions without addressing what she described as the sequence of events leading up to the escalation. She contended that calls for dialogue and diplomacy came after military actions had already undermined negotiations.

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Gandhi also pointed to India’s historical ties with Iran, describing the relationship as both civilisational and strategic. She recalled Iran’s role in 1994 in helping block an effort within the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation to move a resolution against India at the UN Commission on Human Rights over Kashmir. According to Gandhi, that intervention prevented the internationalisation of the Kashmir issue at a sensitive time for India.

Highlighting strategic cooperation, she noted Iran’s facilitation of India’s diplomatic presence in Zahedan near the Pakistan border, seen as a counterbalance to developments at Gwadar port and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. Gandhi also referenced former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s 2001 visit to Tehran, during which he reaffirmed India’s longstanding ties with Iran. She argued that India’s expanding relations with Israel do not preclude maintaining principled positions, especially when New Delhi seeks to preserve diplomatic credibility with both sides.

Emphasising the broader stakes, Gandhi said nearly 10 million Indians live and work across the Gulf region, making stability a strategic necessity. She contended that India’s ability to protect its diaspora in past crises — from the Gulf War to conflicts in Yemen, Iraq and Syria — depended on its image as an independent actor. Invoking the principle of “vasudhaiva kutumbakam", she said silence at a time when the rules-based international order is under strain undermines India’s standing among nations of the Global South and weakens its moral authority on issues of sovereignty and territorial integrity.

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