India Calls Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei’s Comments On Muslims Suffering ‘Misinformed’

India strongly condemned Ayatollah Khamenei's remarks about Muslim 'suffering' in India. The MEA urged countries to examine their own records before criticising others.

India on Monday strongly condemned the remarks made by Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on the occasion of Prophet Mohammed's birth anniversary, in which he highlighted the 'suffering of Muslims' mentioning places, including India.

In a firm response, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a statement, describing Khamenei's comments as "misinformed and unacceptable". "We strongly deplore the comments made regarding minorities in India by the Supreme Leader of Iran. These are misinformed and unacceptable," the ministry said.

The MEA further urged countries offering criticism on minority treatment to examine their own records before making such observations. "Countries commenting on minorities are advised to look at their own record before making any observations about others," it added.

Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei's Remarks On Muslims 'Suffering'

Khamenei had posted his message on X, formerly Twitter, without specifying why he mentioned India's Muslim minority.

In his post, 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.” He added, "The enemies of Islam have always tried to make us indifferent with regard to our shared identity as an Islamic Ummah."

In another post that did not reference India, the Iranian leader reiterated his support for the "oppressed people of Gaza and Palestine", emphasising that unity was crucial to upholding the honour of the Islamic community. "Today, it is definitely our duty to support the oppressed people of Gaza and Palestine. Anyone who neglects this duty will surely be questioned by God," he wrote.

India and Iran share close ties, with no significant strains in recent years. In July, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari attended the inauguration ceremony of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in Tehran. Gadkari conveyed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's good wishes to Pezeshkian on assuming office, a release by the MEA informed. Gadkari engaged in discussions with Iranian officials, where both sides positively assessed the state of bilateral ties as well as the cooperation for the development of Chabahar Port.

India's significant stake in the strategic Iranian port of Chabahar, where an Indian State-run company operates a terminal, remains an important aspect of their bilateral relationship. "Both sides underscored that Chabahar Port would contribute to strengthening bilateral and regional trade. It would provide access to landlocked Afghanistan and Central Asian countries to regional and global markets," the MEA stated in July.