TEHRAN – India’s parliamentary leader Sonia Gandhi has accused Israel of military strikes on June 13 of Iran’s territory as “illegal and violated sovereignty.”
“The Indian National Congress condemned these bombings and condemned targeted assassinations in Iranian soil. Iranian soil represents a dangerous escalation with significant regional and global consequences,” Mrs Gandhi wrote to Hindu sales representatives.
“Like many of Israel’s recent actions, including the cruel and unbalanced campaign in Gaza, this operation was carried out completely ignoring civilian life and local stability. These actions only deepen the instability and sow more seeds of conflict.”
Israel’s strike targeting Iran’s high-value Iranian military assets and facilities has come at a critical time as Iran and the US begin to show tentative signs of progress. A five-round nuclear lecture has already been held in 2025, with the sixth scheduled for the end of June.
Gandhi also directed criticism of US President Donald Trump, accusing him of ignoring his intellectual community of support of his positive attitude.
“Iran is a longtime friend of India and is bound by us by deep civilized relationships, which has a history of unshakable support, including Jammu and Kashmir at key times.
In 1994, Iran helped block India’s critical resolution at the UN Human Rights Commission on the Kashmir issue,” she wrote.
She also reminded me that following the unilateral withdrawal of the US in 2015 in 2018, the collapse of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Action Plan (JCPOA) undermines years of multilateral diplomacy. The decision had a serious impact on India’s economic interests, particularly in the Chabahar Port Project and the international north-south transport corridors.
“More than 55,000 Palestinians have lost their lives. Even their families, neighbours and hospitals have been wiped out. Gaza stands on the brink of hunger, and its civilians continue to suffer indescribable hardships,” she writes.
Gandhi concluded her statement in her appeal to the Indian government to reaffirm her diplomatic role in the region. She urged India to “speak clearly, act responsibly, use all available diplomatic channels to ease tensions and promote a return to Western Asia’s dialogue.
“New Delhi’s silence against the devastation in Gaza and the present, unprovoked escalation against Iran, reflects an unsettling departure from our moral and diplomatic traditions. This represents not just a loss of voice, but a surrender of values.”
“It’s not too late yet. India must speak clearly, act responsibly, use all available diplomatic channels to ease tensions and promote Western Asia’s return to dialogue,” she wrote.
Gandhi’s statement comes hours after Iranian diplomat Mohammad Javad Hosseini, deputy director of the mission of the Iranian Embassy in New Delhi, urged India and other countries to condemn what Tehran describes as an “military attack” by Israel.
During a press conference Friday, Hosseini said Israel’s actions constituted a “violation of international law” and warned of the potential impacts across the region. “We believe that all countries, including India, should blame it for their relations with Iran, because these actions violate global norms,” he said.