India Pays Tribute To Ali Khamenei; Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri Signs Condolence Register

India Condoles Death Of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei; Vikram Misri Signs Condolence Book

India has expressed condolences over the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, with Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri signing the condolence book at the Embassy of Iran in New Delhi on Thursday. Misri signed the register on behalf of the Government of India, conveying the country’s sympathies following Khamenei’s death.

Khamenei was reportedly killed in a joint airstrike by the United States and Israel on February 28, an incident that has significantly escalated tensions in West Asia and triggered a wider regional conflict.

India Urges Dialogue And De-Escalation

Earlier this week, India called for dialogue and diplomacy to bring an early end to the conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel.

In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs emphasised the need to protect the interests of nearly 10 million Indians living and working in the Gulf region and warned that continued instability could disrupt critical trade and energy supply chains.

“In this background, India strongly reiterates its call for dialogue and diplomacy. We raise our voice clearly in favour of an early end to the conflict,” the ministry said, expressing grief over the lives lost since hostilities began.

The government also stressed that the safety and well-being of Indian citizens in the region remains a top priority.

Concerns Over Energy And Trade

The conflict has already begun impacting global energy markets. Oil prices surged after Iranian forces effectively shut down the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route for global crude supplies. Natural gas prices also rose after QatarEnergy halted production following attacks on its facilities.

These developments have raised concerns in India, the world’s second-largest importer of crude oil, which meets around 85% of its energy requirements through imports. The government warned that any major disruption in the region could have serious consequences for the Indian economy, given that a large share of India’s trade and energy supplies passes through West Asian waters.

Officials also noted that some Indian nationals have been killed or reported missing in recent attacks on merchant shipping, while reiterating India’s opposition to such strikes.

Conflict Spreads Across The Region

The conflict has expanded beyond its initial flashpoints. In one incident, a US submarine reportedly torpedoed an Iranian warship near the coast of Sri Lanka, while Azerbaijan warned of retaliation after a drone strike hit an airport in the country.

Azerbaijan said the attack “will not go unanswered” and that it was preparing retaliatory measures, raising fears that additional countries could be drawn into the conflict. Meanwhile, Iran’s state-run Islamic Republic News Agency reported that 1,045 military personnel and civilians have been killed since the war began, although the figures have not been independently verified.

Iranian media also reported damage to several sites in Tehran — including a sports complex, a football stadium, a municipal building and shopfronts — following recent US and Israeli strikes on the city.