New Delhi, March 2 (NationPress) The President of Congress, Mallikarjun Kharge, has firmly denounced the targeted assassination of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, which occurred during a military operation executed by the US and Israeli forces, all without an official declaration of war.

Kharge expressed that the Congress party conveys its heartfelt condolences to the family of the Supreme Leader, to the Iranian populace, and to the global Shia community during this time of deep sorrow, asserting their solidarity as they confront this serious crisis.

In his recent post on X, Kharge stated: "The Indian National Congress (INC) categorically condemns the targeted assassination of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ali Hosseini Khamenei, in a military operation conducted without a formal declaration of war. The INC extends its sincere condolences to the Supreme Leader's family, the Iranian people, and the Shia community worldwide during this period of immense grief. We stand united with them as they face this dire situation."

Furthermore, the Congress President highlighted that India's foreign policy is grounded in a commitment to resolving disputes peacefully through dialogue and adhering to international law, as outlined in Article 51 of the Indian Constitution.

"These principles—sovereign equality, non-intervention, and the promotion of peace—are core to India's civilizational ethos. Therefore, the conflict in West Asia contradicts our commitment to Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (the world is one family), Mahatma Gandhi's philosophy of ahimsa (non-violence), and Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru's non-alignment policy," Kharge stated in his post on X.

"The intentional use of force to undermine the leadership and governance structures of a sovereign nation, be it Iran or previously Venezuela, indicates a troubling resurgence of regime-change ideologies and coercive unilateralism. This also violates the United Nations Charter—particularly Article 2(4), which prohibits the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, and Article 2(7), which forbids intervention in matters that fall within the domestic jurisdiction of any nation. The targeted killing of a sitting head of state undermines these international norms. Sovereignty is unconditional, and political legitimacy cannot be enforced through violence."

"The INC reiterates that every nation’s citizens possess the inherent right to shape their own political destiny. No external entity has the authority to orchestrate regime changes or dictate another state's leadership. Such actions represent imperialism and are fundamentally misaligned with a truly rules-based international order."