India has strongly condemned remarks made by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei concerning the state of Indian Muslims. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Khamenei linked the suffering of Indian Muslims to that of Muslims in Gaza, prompting an official response from New Delhi.
“We strongly deplore the comments made regarding minorities in India by the Supreme Leader of Iran,” the Indian Foreign Ministry said in an official statement. The ministry further added, “These are misinformed and unacceptable. Countries commenting on minorities are advised to look at their own record before making any observations about others.”
The statement was in response to the post of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei commemorating the birth anniversary of Prophet Mohammed. In his message, the Iranian leader 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.” He also emphasized the importance of unity within the Islamic Ummah, criticizing what he termed as efforts by the “enemies of Islam” to divide Muslims.
The comments come at a delicate time, with heightened tensions between Iran and Israel. This has placed India in a challenging position, given its close ties with both countries. While West Asia supplies 80 percent of India’s oil, India has also been cultivating a strategic defence and security relationship with Israel.
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Iran remains one of the largest suppliers of crude oil to India, and both nations share mutual concerns about terrorism originating from Pakistan and Afghanistan. Furthermore, the development of the Chabahar Port has been a significant joint venture between New Delhi and Tehran, aimed at boosting trade and connectivity.
On the other hand, India’s relationship with Israel has also deepened in recent years, particularly around counter-terrorism efforts. Both countries suffered during the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, which is one reason why India extended support to Israel during the initial hours of the October 7 terrorist attacks by Hamas.
The Indian Foreign Ministry’s strong rebuttal to the comments by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei underscores the sensitivity of the situation, as India balances its diplomatic ties in a region fraught with geopolitical complexities.
