Rahul Gandhi Criticizes PM Modi Over Silence on Iranian Warship Incident
Opposition Leader's Accusations
On Thursday, Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, once again targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of remaining silent following the sinking of the Iranian warship, Iris Deena, by an American submarine near Sri Lanka. The warship was returning after participating in the International Fleet Review 2026 (IFR) and Milan 2026 held in Visakhapatnam. In a post on X, Gandhi stated that the conflict in West Asia has reached India's doorstep, and he criticized Modi for abandoning the country's need for 'stable leadership' at a time when India requires strategic autonomy.
Concerns Over Oil Supply
Gandhi emphasized that the conflict has escalated to the Indian Ocean, where an Iranian warship has sunk, yet the Prime Minister has not addressed the issue. He stressed the necessity for stable leadership during such times, contrasting it with what he described as a compromising Prime Minister who has relinquished India's strategic autonomy. He also raised alarms about the potential threats to India's oil supply due to tensions in the Gulf region, noting that over 40% of India's imports transit through the Strait of Hormuz, with the situation for LPG and LNG being even more precarious.
Former Foreign Secretary's Insights
Former Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal remarked that the Iris Deena was present at the IFR and Milan 2026 at India's invitation, asserting that the American attack disregarded India's sensitivities. He mentioned on X that had India not invited the Iranian vessel to participate in the Milan exercise, it would not have been in the area. He clarified that the ship was unarmed, as per the exercise protocols, and that Iranian naval personnel had paraded before the Indian President. Sibal suggested that the attack by the American submarine was premeditated, given that the U.S. was aware of the Iranian ship's presence during the exercise, despite withdrawing its participation at the last moment.
Iran's Response
Sibal further stated that the U.S. has overlooked India's sensitivities since the ship was in those waters due to India's invitation. He emphasized that India should not be held politically or militarily accountable for the attack, but rather, it bears a moral and humanitarian responsibility. He suggested that it would be appropriate for the Indian Navy to mourn the loss of life of those who were invited and had saluted the Indian President. Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi warned that the U.S. would regret its actions against the Iranian ship in the Indian Ocean.