Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday asked whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi supports the assassination of a head of state as a means of shaping the world order, amid the ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran, reported the PTI.
The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha said India must take a clear moral stand. In a post on social media, he stated that silence at such a time could diminish India’s standing globally.
His remarks follow Iran’s confirmation that its Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in targeted strikes reportedly carried out by the United States and Israel.
Rahul Gandhi said escalating hostilities in the region risk pushing an already fragile situation into a wider conflict. He stressed that both unilateral attacks on Iran and Iran’s attacks on other Middle Eastern nations must be condemned.
“Violence begets violence. Dialogue and restraint remain the only path to peace,” he said, according to the PTI.
Impact on Indians
He noted that millions of people in the region, including nearly one crore Indians, are facing uncertainty due to the crisis.
Rahul Gandhi added that India’s foreign policy has traditionally been rooted in respect for sovereignty and the peaceful resolution of disputes, and said it should remain consistent with those principles, the news agency reported.
In his post on X, Rahul Gandhi wrote, “Escalating hostilities between the United States, Israel and Iran are pushing a fragile region toward wider conflict. Crores of people, including nearly a crore Indians, face uncertainty. While security concerns are real, attacks that violate sovereignty will only worsen the crisis. The unilateral attacks on Iran, as well as Iran’s attacks on other Middle Eastern nations, must be condemned. Violence begets violence – dialogue and restraint remain the only path to peace.”
He stated, “India must be morally clear. We should have the courage to speak plainly in defence of international law and human lives. Our foreign policy is rooted in sovereignty and the peaceful resolution of disputes – and it must remain consistent.”
Escalating hostilities between the United States, Israel and Iran are pushing a fragile region toward wider conflict. Crores of people, including nearly a crore Indians, face uncertainty.
While security concerns are real, attacks that violate sovereignty will only worsen the…
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) March 3, 2026
Rahul Gandhi further wrote, “PM Modi must speak up. Does he support the assassination of a head of state as a way to define the world order? Silence now diminishes India’s standing in the world.”
US and Israel launch strikes
The United States and Israel launched major strikes on Iran on Saturday. US President Donald Trump subsequently urged the Iranian public to take control of their future and rise against the country’s Islamic leadership.
(with PTI inputs)