Iran-Israel conflict: Cong asks govt to show moral courage, condemn US strikes

US President Donald Trump's decision to unleash American air power on Iran makes a "mockery" of his own calls for the continuation of talks with Iran, the Congress said on Monday, and slammed the Modi government for neither criticising nor condemning the US bombing and Israel's aggression.

The Opposition party reiterated the absolute essentiality of immediate diplomacy and dialogue with Iran.

Congress Rajya Sabha MP and general-secretary (communications) Jairam Ramesh said President Trump's decision to unleash US air power on Iran makes a mockery of his own calls for the continuation of talks with Iran.

"The Indian National Congress reiterates the absolute essentiality of immediate diplomacy and dialogue with Iran. The Government of India must demonstrate greater moral courage than it has so far," he said in a post on X.

"The Modi Government has unequivocally neither criticised nor condemned the US bombing and Israel's aggression, bombings and targeted assassinations," Ramesh said.

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It has also maintained a deafening silence on the genocide being perpetrated on the Palestianians in Gaza, he added.

His remarks come after the US bombed three major nuclear facilities — Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan — in Iran, inserting itself into the Israel-Iran conflict.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday conveyed to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian India's "deep concern" over Iran's conflict with Israel and called for immediate de-escalation of the situation through "dialogue and diplomacy". However, several observers noted that there was no information about PM Modi speaking to either Trump or Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The US attack on the Iranian nuclear facilities has triggered fears of a wider regional conflict, with many leading countries and blocs calling for restraint. Some nations, such as China, Spain, North Korea and several Latin American countries such as Colombia and Chile have openly condemned the US attacks and expressed support for Iran.

With PTI inputs