India rejects ‘unacceptable’ remarks by Iran’s Supreme Leader

New Delhi, Sep 16: In a strongly worded press release, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) condemned recent comments made by Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei  as “misinformed and unacceptable.” The statement came after Khamenei took to the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to highlight the plight of Muslims worldwide, specifically mentioning crises in Myanmar, Gaza, and India.

“We cannot consider ourselves to be Muslims if we are oblivious to the suffering that a Muslim is enduring in Myanmar, Gaza, India, or any other place,” Khamenei posted, sparking swift backlash from the Indian government.

In response, the MEA  rejected Khamenei’s remarks, particularly those concerning the treatment of minorities in India. “We strongly deplore the comments made regarding minorities in India by the Supreme Leader of Iran. These are misinformed and unacceptable. Countries commenting on minorities are advised to look at their own record before making any observations about others,” the MEA stated.

The diplomatic flare-up comes at a time when India-Iran relations have generally been on the upswing. The two countries have been strengthening their ties, particularly in areas of trade and infrastructure, with the recent agreement on the Chabahar Port serving as a key milestone in their cooperation, despite ongoing US sanctions on Iran.

The Chabahar Port project is seen as crucial for improving regional connectivity and enhancing trade between India, Iran, and Afghanistan.