After the war broke out between Israel-US forces and Iran last week, which killed its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, there was no immediate response from the top figures in the Indian government—neither in favour of, nor against, any of the warring countries.
Above all, they claimed the government had not condoled the death of the head of a state that has served as India's long-time energy partner in the Middle East. Notably, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri has, however, signed the condolence book at the Iranian embassy in New Delhi on Thursday.
This apparently stirred the Opposition camp to call out the silence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who did not speak a word on Khamenei's death. They also called for diplomatic clarity in the country's foreign policy.
Now, six days after the death of Khamenei, a Congress delegation comprising senior party leaders such as Salman Khurshid and Pawan Khera condoled the death of Iran's Supreme Leader, who was killed due to airstrikes on the Israeli compound.
"It is important to tell that the entire Congress stands with our friends (Iran) who are going through a bad time," Congress leader Salman Khurshid said.
"When the government itself doesn't know what its policy is, then how can we say anything on it? ... Only when we see an outcome of the foreign policy can we either support or oppose it," he added.
The war broke out immediately after PM Modi returned to India after a state visit to Israel.
Analysts believe this silence could have diplomatic repercussions for the country, which has had warm relations with Iran in the past, and now suddenly appears to be steering away from it.
This also comes at a time when Iran controls one of the most important global energy chokepoints, the Hormuz Strait, through which a significant amount of crude oil flows into India.