India slams Iran

INDIA has firmly condemned comments made by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei on the ‘suffering’ of Muslims in India, Myanmar and Gaza. India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has dismissed the remarks as ‘misinformed and unacceptable’. The MEA urged Iran to reflect on its own record before commenting on India’s internal affairs. This episode follows similar criticisms from Iran in 2019, when Khamenei had condemned India’s revocation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K).

Notably, Khamenei’s comments were made just before the first phase of the J&K elections — a region with a large Shia population. The timing raises questions about Iran’s intent to influence political sentiments in a region where it shares religious ties with the electorate. While these remarks may seem aligned with Iran’s broader geopolitical strategy, the underlying intent appears to be deeper. Iran often seeks to strengthen its position in the Muslim world, particularly among Shia communities, to counterbalance Sunni-dominated powers like Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, Iran views India as an ally of the US, which complicates diplomatic ties, given Tehran’s strained relations with Washington.

Despite these tensions, India and Iran share a long history of economic and cultural ties. The partnership over the Shahid-Beheshti Port Terminal at Chabahar is a key element in India’s regional trade ambitions, providing access to Afghanistan and Central Asia. Both nations have shown pragmatism in maintaining relations even when diplomatic differences arise. However, repeated provocations by Iran over India’s internal matters could undermine this goodwill. Iran must resist clubbing India with other regions and conflicts as such comparisons could imperil the long-term cooperation between the two countries.