New Delhi, Sep 17 (V7N)-  India has strongly condemned remarks made by Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, concerning the condition of Muslims in India. The comments were described as "misinformed and unacceptable" by India’s Ministry of External Affairs.

The official response came on Monday when India's foreign ministry spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, issued a statement rejecting Khamenei's remarks. During a recent gathering of religious leaders in Tehran, the Iranian leader had referred to the "plight" of Muslims in several countries, including Gaza, India, and Myanmar. This portion of his speech was later shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, stating, "If we are indifferent to the plight of Muslims in Myanmar, Gaza, India or elsewhere, we cannot consider ourselves Muslims."

In response, India’s foreign ministry reacted swiftly, with Jaiswal advising countries like Iran to "reflect on their own actions" before commenting on the internal matters of other nations. He emphasised that such remarks were not only unwarranted but could harm the relations between the two nations.

Despite this diplomatic row, India and Iran maintain strong bilateral relations. The two countries recently strengthened ties by signing a 19-year agreement in May 2024 to develop and operate Iran's strategic Chabahar port. However, Khamenei’s comments have added tension to this long-standing partnership.

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