The Indian government on Sunday maintained silence on the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, even as the Embassy of Iran in New Delhi urged governments worldwide “not to remain silent” in the face of what it called “lawlessness and aggression.”Officials in the Ministry of External Affairs refrained from issuing any formal reaction through the day as the rapidly evolving security situation across West Asia continued to unfold following large-scale military exchanges involving the US, Israel and Iran.Sources said New Delhi was closely monitoring developments but declined to comment publicly, reflecting India’s cautious diplomatic approach amid intensifying regional hostilities and competing strategic partnerships.In a strongly worded statement issued hours after confirmation of Khamenei’s death, the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in New Delhi expressed “profound sorrow and grief” over what it described as the “martyrdom” of the Iranian leader following attacks allegedly carried out by the US and Israel.The embassy conveyed condolences to the Iranian people and the wider Muslim world, asserting that responsibility for the consequences of the strike would lie with Washington and Tel Aviv.“The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in India calls upon independent and freedom-seeking governments around the world to strongly condemn this blatant crime and to refrain from remaining silent in the face of lawlessness and aggression,” the statement said.The diplomatic outreach comes amid sharply escalating regional tensions following retaliatory military strikes and rising fears of a wider conflict across West Asia.India has traditionally maintained close civilisational and economic ties with Iran while simultaneously deepening strategic relations with the US and Israel — a balancing act that has often required calibrated responses during periods of regional crisis.Prime Minister Narendra Modi had only days earlier returned from a two-day state visit to Israel during which both countries elevated their bilateral ties to a special strategic partnership.New Delhi has significant stakes in regional stability, including energy security, the safety of millions of Indian nationals working in Gulf countries and connectivity initiatives such as the Chabahar port project in Iran.