“A Diplomatic Visit That Turned Chilling”: Nitin Gadkari Recounts Narrow Escape Before Tehran Assassination Shocked the World

Delhi: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has shared a startling personal account of events that unfolded during an official visit to Iran, revealing how he unknowingly came close to one of the most dramatic assassinations in recent West Asian history. Speaking at a book release event in New Delhi, Gadkari described how a routine diplomatic trip suddenly transformed into a moment of grave geopolitical significance.

Gadkari said he had travelled to Tehran on the direction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to represent India at the oath-taking ceremony of Iran’s newly elected President, Masoud Pezeshkian. What was expected to be a standard international engagement took an unexpected turn even before the ceremony began. While staying at a luxury hotel where global leaders and senior officials had gathered, Gadkari noticed the presence of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh among the delegates.

According to Gadkari, Haniyeh stood out because he was not a head of state but was moving within the same high-security circles as presidents, prime ministers, and top ministers. He recalled seeing Haniyeh travelling in a convoy alongside Iran’s top leadership toward the inauguration venue, with no indication at the time that anything was amiss.

The situation changed dramatically in the early hours of the morning. Gadkari said he was awakened around dawn by an urgent knock on his hotel room door. The Iranian ambassador to India informed him that he needed to leave immediately. It was then that Gadkari learned Haniyeh had been assassinated.

The killing reportedly took place inside a heavily guarded guest facility located within a military complex under elite security protection. Despite multiple layers of surveillance and safeguards, the attack was executed with precision, resulting in the deaths of Haniyeh and his bodyguard. Gadkari told the audience that even Iranian officials appeared stunned and uncertain about how such a breach could have occurred.

Conflicting theories soon emerged about the method of assassination, ranging from a targeted strike linked to electronic tracking to a missile attack on the building. Media reports later suggested the possibility of an intelligence-led operation involving explosives planted well in advance, raising serious questions about internal security lapses.

Reflecting on the incident, Gadkari highlighted the harsh realities of global power politics. He remarked that true national strength acts as a deterrent, noting how technologically advanced and militarily capable nations are able to protect their interests decisively. What began as an evening of diplomatic interactions, he said, became a sobering reminder of how quickly international engagements can intersect with deadly geopolitical conflicts.