India Rebukes Iran’s Supreme Leader Over Comments on Muslim Rights
India has condemned recent comments made by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei regarding the treatment of Muslims in India, labeling his remarks as “misinformed and unacceptable.” In a social media post on Monday, Khamenei stated, “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.”
In response, India’s Foreign Ministry expressed strong disapproval of Khamenei’s statement. “Countries commenting on minorities are advised to look at their own record before making any observations about others,” a ministry spokesperson said, underscoring India’s stance against external criticism.
Despite this diplomatic friction, India and Iran have generally maintained strong relations. In May, the two countries signed a 10-year contract to develop and operate the strategic Iranian port of Chabahar. India has been developing the port on Iran’s southeastern coast along the Gulf of Oman to facilitate trade with Iran, Afghanistan, and Central Asian countries, bypassing Pakistani ports.
However, Khamenei has previously criticized India over its treatment of Indian Muslims and the contentious situation in the Muslim-majority region of Kashmir. This latest exchange marks another episode in the complex relationship between the two nations.
