‘We Stand In Solidarity’: Congress Condemns Killing Of Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei

Last Updated:March 01, 2026, 10:10 PM IST

The Congress said India’s foreign policy has historically been guided by peaceful resolution of disputes and respect for international law.

Congress Chief Mallikarjun Kharge

The Indian National Congress (INC) on Sunday issued an official statement condemning the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Hosseini Khamenei, describing the attack as a targeted assassination carried out without a formal declaration of war.

In the statement shared by Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on X, the party expressed condolences to Khamenei’s family and to the people of Iran during what it called a moment of profound grief.

The Congress said India’s foreign policy has historically been guided by peaceful resolution of disputes and respect for international law. The statement referred to the principles laid down in Article 51 of the Constitution, which encourages the settlement of global conflicts through dialogue and cooperation rather than military action.

The party also recalled the legacy of India’s early diplomatic vision, mentioning leaders such as Jawaharlal Nehru and Mahatma Gandhi, whose ideas of non-violence and non-alignment shaped the country’s approach to international relations.

“India’s foreign policy is anchored in a commitment to the peaceful settlement of disputes through dialogue and respect for international law, as mandated in Article 51 of the Constitution of India. These principles-sovereign equality, non- intervention and the promotion of peace are foundational to India’s civilisational values. Given this, the conflict in West Asia is deeply antithetical to our commitment to Vasudhaiva Kutumbaka (“the world is one family”), Mahatma Gandhi’s doctrine of ahimsa (non-violence), Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s policy of non-alignment,” it said.

Expressing concern over the escalating conflict in West Asia, the Congress warned that the use of force and attempts at regime change could further destabilise the region. It stressed that such actions go against the principles of the United Nations Charter, which prohibits the use of force against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of any nation.

The statement added that every country has the right to choose its own political path and leadership. According to the party, outside interference in a nation’s internal political processes undermines the global rules-based order and risks increasing instability.

“The INC reiterates that it is the inalienable right of every nation’s citizens to determine their own political future. No external power has the authority to engineer regime change or dictate the leadership of another state. Such actions amount to imperialism and are fundamentally incompatible with a genuinely rules- based international order,” added the official statement.

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