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As tensions between Iran and Israel exploded into open conflict following Israel’s unprecedented military strikes on Iranian nuclear and military targets, India has expressed deep concern and called for immediate de-escalation, urging both sides to prioritise diplomacy over confrontation.
On Friday, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a formal statement saying it was “deeply concerned at the recent developments between Iran and Israel” and called on both parties to “avoid any escalatory steps.” The statement stressed the need to utilise “existing channels of dialogue and diplomacy” to defuse the situation and address the underlying issues.
India, which maintains strategic relations with both Tehran and Tel Aviv, reiterated its readiness to “extend all possible support” towards peace efforts. In parallel, Indian embassies in Tehran and Tel Aviv issued advisories urging Indian nationals to remain vigilant, avoid non-essential travel, and strictly adhere to local safety guidelines amid the escalating hostilities.
Operation Rising Lion: What We Know So Far
Early Friday, Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, a sweeping and coordinated military campaign that targeted key elements of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and missile development facilities. The strikes are being described as the most significant military assault on Iranian soil since the Iran-Iraq War of the 1980s.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the campaign was a “targeted military operation to roll back the Iranian threat to Israel’s very survival,” adding that the strikes “will continue for as many days as necessary.”
Brigadier General Effie Defrin, spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), announced that a recent military operation successfully targeted several critical high-value installations. These included the Natanz nuclear enrichment facility as well as missile development and command centres located in Tehran, Isfahan, Arak, Kermanshah, Tabriz, and their surrounding regions.
Heavy Iranian Casualties, Top Command Decimated
Iran has confirmed the deaths of several senior military and nuclear figures in the Israeli strikes. Among those killed:
- Gen. Mohammad Bagheri, Chief of Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces
- Maj. Gen. Hossein Salami, Commander-in-Chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)
- Sardar Amir Ali Hajizadeh, Head of IRGC’s Aerospace Division
- Dr. Fereydoun Abbasi, Senior Nuclear Scientist
- Dr. Mohammad Tehranchi, Senior Nuclear Physicist
- Sardar Rashid, Commander of the Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters
Additionally, Ali Shamkhani, senior adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was critically injured. Iranian state media reported over 20 senior commanders were killed and more than 50 others wounded, including civilians, after strikes on residential districts in Tehran.
Iran Responds with Drone Swarm, Vows Vengeance
In a massive retaliatory strike, Iran launched over 100 drones targeting Israeli airspace—marking the largest aerial response in the history of the Iran-Israel conflict. Israeli and regional air defence systems, including those in Jordan, intercepted many of the incoming drones, with operations extending “beyond Israeli borders,” according to the IDF.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei raised the symbolic red flag of vengeance over the Jamkaran Mosque in Qom, widely interpreted as a declaration of war.
“With this crime, the Zionist regime has set itself on a path to bitter and painful retribution,” Khamenei warned. Iranian military spokesperson Abolfazl Shekarchi added, “Israel will pay a heavy price.”
India’s Diplomatic Tightrope
India has reaffirmed its commitment to neutrality and diplomacy. The MEA noted that its embassies remain in “close contact with the Indian community” and are actively monitoring the fallout, particularly any risks to nuclear infrastructure and regional stability.
The Indian Embassy in Tehran posted an advisory on X (formerly Twitter), urging Indian nationals to “stay indoors and maintain emergency preparedness.” The Indian mission in Tel Aviv issued a similar notice.
Indian strategic experts have warned that a prolonged conflict could imperil the safety of the over 8 million Indians living and working in the Gulf region while also threatening India’s energy security and shipping lanes in the Persian Gulf.
Trump Reacts, Washington Distances Itself
In a provocative post on Truth Social, U.S. President Donald Trump claimed he had foreknowledge of the Israeli operation. “Certain Iranian hardliners spoke bravely but didn’t know what was about to happen. They are all DEAD now, and it will only get worse,” he wrote, urging Iran to “JUST DO IT BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.”
Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio clarified that the U.S. was not involved in the strikes but had received advance warning. “Our priority is protecting American forces in the region,” he said, warning Iran against targeting U.S. personnel or facilities.
Damage to Nuclear Facilities Confirmed
Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization acknowledged damage to parts of the Natanz enrichment facility but denied any radiation leaks. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi confirmed the attack and stated that the agency is in contact with Iranian authorities and on-site inspectors.
Explosions were also reported near sensitive military and nuclear research centres in Tabriz, Arak, Kermanshah, and Isfahan.
Global Reactions: Calls for Restraint
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged “maximum restraint” and warned that further escalation could ignite a wider regional conflict. Oman, a key mediator in Iran-U.S. talks, condemned the Israeli strikes as a “reckless escalation” and a “flagrant violation of international law.”
As Operation Rising Lion unfolds, the global community watches with alarm. For India, the stakes are enormous—not only in maintaining regional geopolitical balance but also in ensuring the safety of millions of its citizens in West Asia.
While Israel insists on its right to self-defence, and Iran promises revenge, New Delhi’s message is unequivocal: De-escalation, diplomacy, and dialogue are the only acceptable path forward.
Team BharatShakti
