Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan Denounces Israeli Strikes on Iran as “Unacceptable”

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan sharply criticised Israel’s recent airstrikes on Iran, urging global leaders to condemn the actions. Speaking to the media on Friday, CM Vijayan described the attacks as “disgusting” and labelled Israel as a “rowdy nation,” asserting that U.S. backing does not justify unilateral aggression.

“These strikes on Iran cannot be accepted,” he said. “They represent a threat to world peace, and all nations should oppose such arbitrary actions.”

The CM’s remarks come amid intense campaigning for the Nilambur Assembly by-election scheduled for June 19. With a strong Muslim community presence, Nilambur is politically sensitive and CM Vijayan’s stance is likely to resonate with voters who oppose Israel’s actions. The Left government in Kerala had previously condemned Israel’s offensive against Hamas during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Vijayan also highlighted that thousands of Keralite nurses are employed in Israel, adding a local dimension to the issue.

Despite CM Vijayan’s claim that Israel acted with U.S. support, American officials have denied involvement. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated, “We are not involved in strikes against Iran, and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region. Israel advised us that they believe this action was necessary for its self‑defence.”