The Embassy of Iran in New Delhi held a condolence meeting for Ali Khamenei. The gathering followed Khamenei’s death in strikes earlier this month. Several Indian political leaders attended the prayer meeting. Therefore, the event quickly drew public and media attention. The embassy also lowered its flag to half-mast. That gesture marked official mourning at the mission. Meanwhile, tensions in West Asia continued to rise sharply. The condolence event unfolded against that larger regional backdrop.
Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal attended the gathering and offered condolences. He strongly criticised the manner of Khamenei’s killing. Moreover, he urged countries to resolve conflicts through dialogue. Sibal said nations should reject violence and pursue peace. He also warned about the weakening of the global rules-based order. According to him, recent developments have damaged international stability. He said that trend does not help any country. Instead, he argued, it harms global peace directly. His remarks gave the meeting a broader diplomatic context.
Kapil Sibal Calls for Dialogue Over Conflict
Speaking to reporters, Sibal delivered a firm appeal for restraint. He said every nation should prefer dialogue over destructive force. He also said leaders must protect world order through responsible action. Furthermore, he linked Khamenei’s assassination to wider global concerns. In his view, international norms have weakened in recent years. Therefore, he called the current moment deeply troubling. He stressed that peace requires serious diplomatic commitment. He also suggested that military responses only deepen instability. His comments shaped much of the discussion around the event.
Apart from Sibal, several other leaders also reached the embassy. Their presence signalled political interest in the unfolding crisis. Moreover, it reflected concern over West Asia’s rapidly worsening situation. The gathering did not remain limited to Delhi alone. Earlier, many people visited Iran’s consulate in Hyderabad. They signed a condolence book and paid tribute to Khamenei. That public response showed emotional support among sections of Indian visitors. Consequently, the mourning extended beyond diplomatic offices.
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Hyderabad Consulate Opens Condolence Book
At the Iranian Consulate in Hyderabad, officials opened a condolence book for visitors. Vice Consul Mohsin Moghaddmi spoke to the media there. He said Indian nationals could pay tribute to Khamenei. He also invited people to express solidarity with Iran. According to him, many visitors came to honour the Iranian leader. Therefore, the consulate became another site of public mourning. The Hyderabad event complemented the embassy gathering in Delhi. Together, both events reflected a coordinated diplomatic response by Iranian missions in India.
The embassy meeting in Delhi came during a volatile regional crisis. A joint US-Israel strike on Iranian territory triggered the current escalation. That strike killed Khamenei and other senior Iranian figures. In response, Tehran launched waves of drone and missile attacks. Those attacks spread across multiple Arab countries. As a result, the conflict entered its seventh day. Therefore, the Delhi condolence meeting carried added geopolitical weight. It did not happen in isolation. Instead, it unfolded during one of the region’s most dangerous moments.
Mehbooba Mufti Expresses Solidarity With Iran
PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti also attended the condolence meeting. She said she came to convey condolences to the people of Iran. Additionally, she paid tribute to Khamenei and other victims. She told reporters that Kashmiris stand with Iran in this period. She described the Iranian people as courageous and resilient. Moreover, she praised their resolve during the conflict. Mufti also offered prayers for Iran’s victory. Her remarks carried strong emotion and clear political messaging. Therefore, they attracted significant attention during the event.
#WATCH | Delhi: On attending the condolence meeting at the Iranian Embassy for Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayotollah Ali Khamenei, PDP Chief Mehbooba Mufti says, “We have come here to convey our condolences to the people of Iran on having lost their loved ones and also to pay tributes… pic.twitter.com/OfM2aRO48O
— ANI (@ANI) March 9, 2026
Mufti framed her attendance as an act of solidarity. She said the people of Kashmir support Iran’s struggle. She also saluted what she called Iran’s resilience and courage. Her words added a sharper political tone to the gathering. However, the meeting also included leaders who focused on peace more broadly. That contrast shaped the overall mood of the event. Some speakers emphasised solidarity and resistance. Others stressed restraint, diplomacy and dialogue. Consequently, the condolence meeting reflected different political voices under one roof.
Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi Stresses India’s Peace Message
BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi also joined the condolence meeting. He said he came to pay tribute to Khamenei. He also said he met the Iranian Ambassador during the visit. Naqvi offered condolences and highlighted India’s long support for peace. He described India as the land of Buddha. Therefore, he linked his message to India’s civilisational values. He also referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s repeated calls for peace. According to Naqvi, war cannot solve problems. Only peace can open a meaningful path forward.
#WATCH | Delhi: BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi says, “We came here to pay tribute to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Hazrat Ali Khamenei. We also met with the Iranian Ambassador. I offered my heartfelt tribute and condolences. India, the land of Buddha, has always been a supporter of… https://t.co/h3UrAbojPn pic.twitter.com/LbW7qMS06t
— ANI (@ANI) March 9, 2026\
Naqvi said people must seek peace even during crisis. He expressed hope that calm would return soon. Moreover, he prayed for peace to emerge from the current turmoil. His remarks balanced the sharper statements made by other attendees. Therefore, the event included multiple strands of political expression. Some leaders spoke from grief. Others spoke from diplomacy. Still others spoke from ideological conviction. Together, their comments highlighted India’s varied political responses to the Iran crisis.
Embassy Event Reflects Wider Concern in India
The condolence meeting also showed how regional conflicts affect public conversations in India. Leaders from different parties attended the same event. That detail matters because it shows cross-party engagement. Moreover, it reflects the symbolic importance of Iran in regional politics. The embassy’s half-mast flag added solemnity to the gathering. Meanwhile, the condolence book in Hyderabad expanded public participation. These gestures together created a wider mourning atmosphere. Therefore, the response did not remain limited to official protocol.
At the same time, the event underlined growing anxiety over West Asia. The killing of Khamenei has already changed regional calculations. Iran’s response has widened fears of further escalation. As drone and missile strikes continue, diplomatic concern has grown globally. Indian leaders at the embassy responded in different ways. Yet most of them returned to one central point. They called for peace, dialogue and restraint. That common thread stood out clearly despite political differences.
A Diplomatic Gathering With Political Weight
The embassy gathering served both diplomatic and political purposes. It honoured a leader whose death shook the region. At the same time, it gave Indian politicians a platform. Through that platform, they responded to a fast-moving global crisis. Their remarks ranged from condolences to direct political criticism. However, the broader message remained clear. The crisis has created deep concern far beyond Iran’s borders. India’s political class has started responding publicly and visibly.
The condolence meeting in Delhi therefore became more than a memorial event. It became a stage for grief, diplomacy and political messaging. The Hyderabad condolence book added public participation to that response. Meanwhile, the Iran conflict continues to intensify. Therefore, such gatherings may continue in the coming days. For now, the embassy event has shown one thing clearly. The crisis in West Asia now echoes strongly in India’s political and diplomatic spaces.
