India has established direct diplomatic communication with Iran in the wake of the death of Ali Khamenei, marking a cautious move as regional tensions continue to escalate. Five days after the Iranian supreme leader’s death,
India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar held a telephone conversation with Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, signaling New Delhi’s intent to maintain dialogue with Tehran.
As part of diplomatic outreach, India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri visited the Iranian Embassy in New Delhi and met Iranian officials.
During the visit, India expressed condolences over Khamenei’s death and reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining stable bilateral relations.
However, Indian authorities have not issued any direct statement condemning the military actions involving other regional actors.
India also expanded its diplomatic engagement by speaking with the foreign minister of Oman, reflecting its strategic interest in Gulf stability.
Analysts say the outreach comes amid growing uncertainty in West Asia following intensified hostilities involving United States and Israel in operations linked to Iran and allied groups.
Regional tensions have increased after Iran reportedly responded to attacks by targeting several American military facilities in the region. Drone strikes allegedly associated with Iran were reported in parts of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait, raising fears that the conflict could spread further across the Middle East.
In parallel developments, airstrikes targeting Iran-aligned movements such as Hezbollah in Lebanon have continued, adding pressure to an already volatile situation. Meanwhile, conflicting reports have emerged regarding an alleged torpedo attack that may have damaged an Iranian naval vessel in the Indian Ocean.
The geopolitical uncertainty has prompted the Indian government to set up a dedicated West Asia monitoring and assistance cell under the Ministry of External Affairs.
The cell operates daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Indian citizens can seek help through the toll-free number 1800118797 or emergency diplomatic contact lines 1123012113, 1123014104 and 1123017905.
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