While Prime Minister Modi was quick to condemn Iran's strikes in the Gulf, New Delhi largely maintained a notable silence regarding the assassination of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. By withholding both a formal condemnation of the US-Israeli strikes and any expression of condolence until the Foreign Secretary finally signed the condolence book at the Iranian Embassy, India appeared to have effectively chosen a side in the conflict. So, what factors underpinned this strategic shift?
