FS Vikram Misri signs Khamenei condolence book - India's 1st diplomatic gesture since Iran Supreme Leader's death
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri also met the Iranian ambassador. Khamenei was killed in a joint US-Israeli airstrike on Iran on 28 February. His death was confirmed by state media hours after US President Donald Trump announced it.
India on Thursday expressed condolences over the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, with Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri signing the condolence book at the Iranian Embassy in New Delhi on behalf of the Government of India. This marks the first diplomatic gesture from India since the former Supreme Leader's death. Misri also met the Iranian ambassador.
Khamenei was killed in a joint US-Israeli airstrike on Iran on 28 February. His death was confirmed by state media hours after US President Donald Trump announced it.
On Thursday, Iran launched a fresh wave of attacks at Israeli and American bases and threatened that the United States would “bitterly regret” torpedoing an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean, while Israel said it had begun a “large-scale” attack on Tehran, according to a report by AP.
The warship, IRIS Dena, a 1,500-ton Moudge-class frigate, was on its way to Iran after taking part in a multilateral maritime exercise, Milan 2026, in Visakhapatnam. Iranian officials said the vessel had been visiting India before the attack and was carrying around 130 sailors when it was struck off the coast of Sri Lanka.
The Islamic Republic's fresh wave of attacks came days after the US and Israel jointly launched an attack on Iran on 28 February. Hours later, on the same day, Iran launched retaliatory strikes – with explosions reported across Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Doha and Kuwait, among other key Middle Eastern hubs – which are also home to US military bases.
The conflict – which has now entered the sixth day – also led to massive flight disruptions. Dubai airports were shut, with the majority of flights to and from Gulf cities impacted for at least three consecutive days.
Iranian cleric calls for ‘Trump’s blood'
On Thursday, an Iranian cleric called for the “shedding” of blood from Israelis and US President Donald Trump.
Ayatollah Abdollah Javadi Amoli called for “the shedding of Zionist blood, the shedding of Trump’s blood”, the Associated Press reported, citing his statement.
Who will be Iran's next Supreme Leader?
Iran has not yet elected the successor of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Syed Ali Khamenei. Ayatollah Dr Abdul Majeed Hakeemelahi, the representative of Iran's supreme leader in India, also said that the process to elect a new leader is still underway.
"This news is not true because, till now, they (the council) have not chosen or nominated anyone, and the process is still underway," Hakeemelahi told PTI when asked about some media reports claiming that Ayatollah Khamenei's son, Mojtaba Khamenei, has been elected as his successor.
“There are several candidates for this position, and Ayatollah Mojtaba is one of them. It is not because he is the son of Ayatollah Khamenei. Rather, because of his qualifications, they may consider choosing him. But it is not finalised, and they are still assessing to find the qualified person for this position,” news wire PTI quoted the representative as saying.