Published March 2, 2026 — last updated March 2, 2026
India’s main opposition, the Congress Party, condemned the reported killing of Iran’s supreme leader in an Israeli strike and criticized the Modi government’s handling of the ensuing Middle East crisis. Media accounts of the strike and its casualties have not been independently verified.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge issued a statement denouncing the reported attack as unacceptable. Priyanka Gandhi posted on X that the killing was “despicable,” and accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of aligning with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former US President Donald Trump. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh criticized Modi’s recent visit to Israel and his Knesset speech, calling the timing inappropriate and the remarks “shameful moral cowardice.”
The prime minister stressed India’s concern about escalating tensions and emphasized the protection of civilians. Modi spoke by phone with Netanyahu, urging an “early cessation of hostilities” and stressing the need to safeguard non-combatants. He also condemned attacks on the United Arab Emirates during a call with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and reiterated that India stands in solidarity with the Emirates. Modi has repeatedly highlighted India’s preference for resolving disputes through dialogue and diplomacy and outlined measures to protect Indian nationals in the region.
Separately, India and Canada announced a package of bilateral agreements during a recent visit by Canadian leaders. Officials from both countries said the deals include a strategic energy partnership and an agreement on uranium supply intended to support India’s civilian nuclear power capacity, valued at roughly CAD$2.6 billion. They also plan cooperation on small modular reactors and advanced reactor technologies as part of efforts to deepen energy and technological ties.
DW will continue to follow developments as New Delhi responds diplomatically to the crisis and works to ensure the safety of its citizens abroad.