Iran’s Embassy in New Delhi lowered its flag to half-mast on March 1 after authorities officially confirmed the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was reportedly killed in strikes blamed on Israel and the United States.
The embassy said the gesture was a mark of mourning and respect, as tensions continued to rise across the region.
A day before the confirmation, the mission had strongly pushed back against what it described as demands from Israel and the United States for Iran to disarm. In a statement issued by Iran’s Supreme National Security Council and shared by the embassy in New Delhi, Washington was accused of carrying out coordinated aerial operations with Israel, targeting sites in Tehran and several other cities.
The statement claimed that some of the strikes damaged civilian infrastructure and warned that more attacks could follow in the coming days. It also said the operations took place while negotiations were still underway, rejecting any notion that Iran would bow to military pressure.
Meanwhile, Iranian authorities have urged residents to stay calm and shift to areas considered safer from potential strikes. The government said steps had been taken to maintain the supply of essential goods and appealed to citizens not to crowd shopping centres due to security concerns.
Schools and other educational institutions in affected areas have been closed. Banks, however, are functioning normally, while government offices are operating at 50 per cent capacity until further notice.
The latest developments signal a sharp escalation in the conflict, with possible diplomatic and security repercussions extending well beyond the region.