Indian premier condemns attacks on UAE, calls for de-escalation

ISTANBUL

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday “condemned” attacks on the UAE and condoled the loss of lives in Iranian retaliatory attacks.

During a phone call with UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Modi called for de-escalation, regional peace, security and stability, according to a statement on the US social media company X.

The US and Israel launched a joint military operation against Iran on Saturday, triggering retaliatory strikes by Iran targeting US-linked bases in the region, including in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

One Indian national was also reported injured during the attacks inside the UAE.

Separately, India's main opposition Congress party condemned the “targeted assassination” of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in a joint US-Israeli attack launched a day before.

The “targeted assassination” of a sitting head of state “strikes at the heart” of international rules, Congress party President Mallikarjun Kharge posted on X.

He “unequivocally” condemned the attack and extended “deepest condolences” to Khamenei’s family and the Iranian people.

“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,” he added.

Tehran early Sunday announced the death of Khamenei, 86, following US-Israeli bombardment on the Iranian capital on Saturday.

It also declared 40 days of public mourning in the country.

The Iranian Supreme National Security Council said Khamenei was killed at his office early Saturday, and that his death would mark the beginning of a “great uprising against the tyrants of the world.”