Iran’s Ambassador to India, Mohammad Fathali, on Thursday strongly criticised the United States and Israel, accusing them of deliberately igniting a war during ongoing negotiations and destabilising the wider West Asian region.
His remarks come amid rapidly escalating hostilities between Iran and the US-Israel alliance, including the sinking of the Iranian naval frigate IRIS Dena in the Indian Ocean, an incident Tehran has condemned as “an atrocity at sea.”
Blaming Washington and Tel Aviv for triggering the conflict, Ambassador Fathali asserted that both countries are fully aware of Iran’s strategic and geographical position.
Describing Israel as the “Zionist regime,” the envoy said the intention of Israel is to destroy the Middle East region.
Speaking to reporters, he said, “They know very well where Iran is and the location of Iran. But unfortunately, the Zionist regime wants to destroy and disturb all the region, all the properties of the region. Iran is not attacking its neighbours. We don’t attack our neighbours; they provide the bases. You heard that three F-15s were shot down. We have a good relationship with our neighbours. We announced to all neighbours that we will attack the bases of the United States…”
When asked whether Iran was in communication with India regarding the crisis, Fathali clarified, “No, we have no negotiation. We have no messages… You can ask from the Indian side…”
Addressing concerns over the Strait of Hormuz, he said, “We have no news, we have no formation in this case, but I want to say that Iran demonstrated sincerity and they showed open hostility and they started it… They know very well the capacity and capability of Iran. We don’t want war. They started it.”
Commenting on the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, in Israeli strikes, Fathali said, “We have lost a great figure, our leader, our father, and always his eminence advised us to try our best to stand on the right side of history. I believe that his eminence stood on the right side of history, and he received his reward.”
Slamming the United States for launching attacks amid ongoing negotiations, he added, “We entered the negotiation table in spite of knowing their intentions, but they set the time; before that, they attacked, and we announced that we would respond… Unfortunately, the region faced so many problems, and the Zionist regime wanted to disturb and destroy all the properties in our region.”
The ambassador’s remarks followed the sinking of the Iranian naval frigate IRIS Dena in the Indian Ocean.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, condemned the strike, describing the vessel as “India’s guest” in a post on X. He termed the US action “an atrocity at sea, 2,000 miles away from Iran’s shores,” and confirmed that 130 sailors were onboard at the time of the attack. Araghchi said the ship was struck without warning and warned that Washington “will come to bitterly regret the precedent it has set.” He underscored the diplomatic significance of the incident, referring to the vessel as “a guest of India’s Navy.”
“India’s guest” and slammed the US for perpetrating an “atrocity at sea, 2,000 miles away from Iran’s shores.” He confirmed that 130 sailors were onboard the vessel and it was attacked in the Indian Ocean while en route back to Iran. The Iranian FM also said that the vessel was struck without warning and declared that America “will come to bitterly regret precedent it has set.” He called the vessel “a guest of India’s Navy.
The latest developments mark a significant escalation in tensions between Iran and the US–Israel axis, raising fresh concerns over regional stability and the security of key maritime routes, including the Strait of Hormuz.
