On June 13, 2025, a new chapter of geopolitical unrest unfolded when Israel launched a controversial and unlawful strike on Iran, blatantly violating Iranian sovereignty. This military act, which further deepens the instability of the West Asian region, has triggered global concern and condemnation, including from India’s principal opposition party, the Indian National Congress. The party denounced the targeted assassinations and bombings carried out on Iranian territory, calling it a dangerous provocation with severe consequences both regionally and globally.
The Congress party’s criticism places this strike within a larger pattern of Israel’s recent military campaigns, notably its forceful offensive in Gaza. According to the party, Israel continues to show blatant disregard for civilian life and regional stability. “These actions will only deepen instability and sow the seeds of further conflict,” the party warned, expressing concern over the ripple effects of escalating tensions.
What makes this development even more alarming is its timing. Diplomatic discussions between Iran and the United States had shown encouraging progress earlier in the year, with five rounds of negotiations already completed and a sixth scheduled for June. The hope for de-escalation was further reinforced when, in March 2025, U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard testified before Congress, stating unequivocally that Iran was not pursuing nuclear weapons. Gabbard emphasized that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, had not authorized the resumption of any nuclear weapons program since its suspension in 2003.
These diplomatic efforts now stand jeopardized due to the current Israeli administration’s preference for confrontation over dialogue. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel has consistently undermined prospects for peace, while encouraging a culture of extremism. His government’s continued expansion of illegal settlements, alignment with far-right nationalist groups, and obstruction of the two-state solution have inflicted immense suffering on Palestinians and exacerbated regional unrest.
The Congress party did not hesitate to highlight Netanyahu’s historical role in derailing peace efforts. They pointed out that he played a role in stoking animosity that culminated in the 1995 assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, which effectively ended a promising peace initiative between Israelis and Palestinians.
In light of this track record, it is unsurprising to observers that Netanyahu’s response to tensions with Iran has taken the form of military escalation. However, what has particularly dismayed the Congress party is the apparent endorsement of this path by U.S. President Donald Trump. Once a vocal critic of America’s “endless wars” and the influence of the military-industrial complex, Trump now seems willing to tread the same course he once condemned. The party noted the irony that Trump, who frequently decried the false pretext of weapons of mass destruction used to justify the Iraq War, is now dismissing his own intelligence chief’s statements about Iran.
Trump’s assertion on June 17 that Iran was “very close” to acquiring nuclear weapons was met with concern. According to the Congress, such rhetoric is not only unsubstantiated but also reckless. “The world expects and needs leadership that is grounded in facts and driven by diplomacy, and not by force or falsehoods,” the party stressed.
Although Israel’s fears of a nuclear-armed Iran are not baseless, the Congress maintained that international standards must be applied consistently. “There can be no room for double standards,” it stated, pointing out that Israel is itself a nuclear weapons state with a history of military aggression. Iran, by contrast, remains a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and had, under the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), accepted strict limitations on its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. The agreement was supported by the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, Germany, and the European Union, and was verified by international monitors—until the U.S. unilaterally withdrew in 2018.
That decision, the Congress argues, undid years of meticulous diplomacy and once again imperiled a region already teetering on instability. India, too, has not escaped the consequences. The reimposed sanctions severely hampered India’s ability to develop key infrastructure projects with Iran, such as the International North-South Transport Corridor and the Chabahar Port, both seen as critical to India’s access to Central Asia and Afghanistan.
Beyond strategic calculations, Iran has been a long-standing friend of India, sharing deep civilizational ties and standing by New Delhi at pivotal moments. For instance, in 1994, Iran played a crucial role in blocking a resolution critical of India at the UN Commission on Human Rights concerning Kashmir. This support contrasts with the alignment of the former Imperial State of Iran, which leaned toward Pakistan during the 1965 and 1971 wars.
At the same time, India has developed robust strategic ties with Israel. This unique diplomatic position, according to the Congress, places India in an ideal spot to act as a mediator and peacebuilder. This is not merely a theoretical argument. With lakhs of Indian nationals living and working across West Asia, peace in the region is a matter of urgent national interest.
Despite this, Israel’s recent strikes have taken place under a veil of impunity, aided by near-blanket support from powerful Western nations. While the Congress party had earlier unequivocally condemned the brutal October 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas as “absolutely horrific and totally unacceptable,” they asserted that remaining silent in the face of Israel’s overwhelming and disproportionate retaliation would be morally indefensible. Over 55,000 Palestinians have reportedly been killed in these reprisals. “Entire families, neighbourhoods, and even hospitals have been obliterated,” they noted. Gaza, they warned, is teetering on the edge of famine, and its people continue to endure unimaginable suffering.
In this backdrop, the Congress sharply criticized the Indian government’s current position. They accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration of turning its back on India’s traditional commitment to a peaceful two-state solution, one which envisions a sovereign Palestinian state living in peace alongside Israel. According to the Congress, the Modi government’s silence on the destruction in Gaza and now on Israel’s strike against Iran is a worrying departure from India’s moral and diplomatic legacy. “This represents not just a loss of voice but also a surrender of values,” they cautioned.
Nevertheless, the Congress maintained that India could still play a constructive role. They called upon the Indian government to act with urgency, use every available diplomatic channel, and reassert its commitment to peace in West Asia. “It is still not too late. India must speak clearly, act responsibly, and use every diplomatic channel available to defuse tensions and promote a return to dialogue in West Asia,” the statement concluded.