Securing Millions Abroad: Why India Avoids Taking Sides in War
A country's Supreme Leader is killed. His infant granddaughter is dead. A girls' school is bombed, killing 150 people. Hospitals are destroyed. And the world's largest democracy — India — is watching all of this in complete silence. No condolence. No condemnation. Just a cold, careful, calculated silence. Does that not disturb you?
On February 28, America and Israel launched devastating missile strikes deep inside Iran. The very first attack killed Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with five of his own family members, including a tiny baby granddaughter, and his closest advisors. Think about that for a moment. An entire family wiped out in seconds. Then came more horror. A girls' primary school in the city of Minab was hit, killing nearly 150 innocent people, mostly children, and injuring about 100 more. On March 1, hospitals in Tehran were damaged, including Gandhi Hospital — a hospital named after our own Mahatma Gandhi. The head of the World Health Organization called these attacks "deeply concerning."
And what did India say? External Affairs Minister Jaishankar did speak to Iran's Foreign Minister on the same day. But in all official statements, there was no condolence message. No mention of the children killed in schools. No word about the hospitals destroyed. Just a general line saying India is "deeply concerned about recent developments." That is it. Later, on March 3, another statement came expressing "grave anxiety." But still, nothing specific. Nothing human.
This has shocked many people, including India's own former diplomats. One former Ambassador with deep experience in international law gave a chilling warning. He said that if countries do not stand up against the growing practice of killing leaders of independent nations, they themselves could be "next in line." Think about that. If today it is Iran's leader, tomorrow it could be anyone.
Opposition parties have slammed the Modi government hard. They are asking — is this the same India that always stood for peace, sovereignty, and international law? They point out that India has responded more strongly in the past. In January 2020, when America killed Iran's top General Qasem Soleimani, India had at least called the situation "alarming." The Ministry of External Affairs had acknowledged that a senior Iranian leader was killed and stressed the importance of peace in the region. Iran's Foreign Minister even visited New Delhi that year and openly criticised President Trump during the Raisina Dialogue.
Again in June 2025, when America attacked Iran's nuclear sites, Prime Minister Modi himself called Iran's President within hours and expressed "deep concern." India later joined SCO and BRICS statements criticising the strikes. During that crisis, Iran even made a special exception for India, reopening its airspace only for Indian flights so that hundreds of Indians could return home safely. Iran helped us. And now, when Iran is bleeding, India is looking the other way.
So why this silence? Former Ambassador to Iran, Rakesh Sood, explained to The HINDU , that today's global politics is extremely complex, India's ties with Iran have weakened over the years, and Khamenei's past remarks about India had created bitterness. But beyond that, there are five deeper reasons.
First, India's bond with Israel has become very strong. Modi was the first Indian PM to visit Israel in 2017. After his recent speech in the Israeli Parliament saying India stands "firmly and fully" with Israel, the shift became clear. After the war began, Modi called Netanyahu and Gulf leaders but did not call Iran's President. Netanyahu even thanked Modi publicly. India clearly does not want to upset Israel.
Second, India-Iran trade has collapsed. Due to American sanctions, India stopped buying Iranian oil in 2018. Trade crashed from 17 billion dollars to barely 1.68 billion. Even the Chabahar port that India built is now in danger. India has already paid its full 120 million dollars and quietly pulled out most staff. Israeli missiles have even struck the Chabahar airport area.
Third, Khamenei had personally angered India by criticising its Kashmir policy in 2017, opposing Article 370's removal in 2019, and calling the Delhi riots a "massacre of Muslims" in 2020. This bitterness made India unwilling to mourn his death publicly.
Fourth, India does not want to upset its Gulf friends, especially the UAE and Saudi Arabia. A new defence partnership with the UAE was signed just this January. Since Iran has attacked facilities in these countries, India cannot be seen supporting Iran.
Fifth, India desperately needs America right now. A fresh trade deal was signed in February 2026. America has included India in its Pax Silica technology supply chain. With Trump threatening sanctions on anyone engaging with Iran, India simply cannot risk angering Washington.
But this silence has a price. India hosts the BRICS summit this year — a group that includes both Iran and the UAE. If India stays quiet too long, its reputation as a fair and independent voice will be damaged forever.
Silence is also a choice. And sometimes, silence speaks louder than words.
(Girish Linganna is an award-winning science communicator and a Defence, Aerospace & Geopolitical Analyst. He is the Managing Director of ADD Engineering Components India Pvt. Ltd., a subsidiary of ADD Engineering GmbH, Germany.)
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the views, policies, or position of the publication, its editors, or its management. The publication is not responsible for the accuracy of any information, statements, or opinions presented in this piece.
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India says no payment issues with Iran, crude supplies fully secured
New Delhi (PTI): India said on Saturday that there are no payment issues with Iran for crude imports and that refiners continue to source oil from the country, as well as from a wide range of global suppliers.
In a post on X, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas dismissed reports that an oil tanker carrying Iranian crude had rerouted mid-voyage from its previously indicated destination of India, which would have marked the first such shipment in nearly seven years, to China, saying the claims overlooked standard industry practice where cargoes can change destination during transit based on trade optimisation and operational flexibility.
Terming as "factually incorrect" assertions that the cargo was diverted from its previously indicated destination of Vadinar in Gujarat to China due to payment hurdles, the ministry said, "there are no payment hurdles for Iranian crude imports".
"India imports crude oil from 40+ countries, with companies having full flexibility to source oil from different sources and geographies based on commercial considerations," it said.
"Amid Middle East supply disruptions, Indian refiners have secured their crude oil requirements, including from Iran, and there is no payment hurdle for Iranian crude imports, contrary to the rumours being circulated."
Ship-tracking firm Kpler on Friday stated that Aframax tanker Ping Shun, built in 2002 and sanctioned by the US in 2025, is now signalling Dongying in China as its destination instead of Vadinar in Gujarat, which it had indicated earlier this week.
Oil on Ping Shun would have been the first Iranian crude that India would have purchased since 2019. Indian refiners have been looking at opportunities to purchase a few cargoes of Iranian oil on water following the recent sanctions waiver by Washington.
The ministry clarified that changes in vessel destinations during transit are common in global oil trade, as bills of lading often indicate tentative discharge ports and cargoes may be rerouted mid-voyage for operational and commercial reasons.
"Claims on vessel diversion ignore how the oil trade works. Bills of Lading often carry indicative discharge ports, destinations and on-sea cargoes can change destinations mid-voyage based on trade optimisation and operational flexibility," the ministry said.
"It is reiterated that India's crude oil requirements remain fully secured for the coming months."
The ministry also said that an LPG vessel, Sea Bird, carrying about 44,000 tonnes of Iranian LPG, berthed at Mangalore on April 2 and is currently discharging cargo.
Historically, India was a major buyer of Iranian crude, importing significant volumes of Iranian light and heavy grades due to strong refinery compatibility and favourable commercial terms.
Following sanctions tightening in 2018, imports ceased in May 2019, with volumes replaced by Middle Eastern, US and other grades. At peak, Iranian crude accounted for 11.5 per cent of India's total imports.
India used to buy 5,18,000 barrels per day of Iranian oil in 2018, which slowed to 2,68,000 bpd between January and May 2019 when the US granted waivers to a few buyers. There have been no imports since.
The key grades that Indian refiners used to purchase are Iran light and Iran heavy crudes.
The US last month waived sanctions on the purchase of Iranian oil at sea for 30 days in its latest attempt to ease oil prices that have been driven up by the US-Israeli war on Iran.
That window expires April 19. An estimated 95 million barrels of Iranian oil are on vessels at sea, of which around 51 million barrels could be sold to India, and the remaining are better suited for buyers in China and Southeast Asia.
Ping Shun is estimated to be carrying about 6,00,000 barrels of oil that was loaded from Kharg Island around March 4. Its declared ETA to Vadinar was April 4, according to Kpler.
