Delhi Riots Put India-Iran Ties Under Strain
After Iranian foreign minister Javad Zarif, now Iran’s supreme religious leader Ayatollah Khameini has released a statement on the recent Delhi riots. Khameini has said that Muslims have been massacred in India and the central government should rein in fundamentalist elements.
Iran is the fourth Islamic nation that has taken the Modi government to task over the riots in Delhi.
Although friendly relations between India and Iran go back centuries, a fissure seems to be developing in them now, with Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Khameini launching a scathing attack on the Narendra Modi government over the recent communal riots in Delhi. Khameini has posted a tweet that says, “The hearts of Muslims all over the world are grieving over the massacre of Muslims in India. The govt of India should confront extremist Hindus & their parties & stop the massacre of Muslims in order to prevent India’s isolation from the world of Islam.” Khameini has used the hashtag #IndianMuslimslnDanger along with this tweet, which is significant because Iran’s supreme leader has issued this statement despite the objections of the government of India. Earlier, on March 2, Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif had castigated the Modi government on the Delhi violence. He had written, “Iran condemns the wave of organized violence against Indian Muslims. For centuries, Iran has been a friend of India. We urge Indian authorities to ensure the wellbeing of ALL Indians & not let senseless thuggery prevail. Path forward lies in peaceful dialogue and rule of law.” The central government had summoned Ali Chegeni, the Iranian Ambassador to India, over this statement in Delhi. Raising objections over Zarif’s statement, Ali Chegeni was told that what happened in Delhi is India’s internal matter. However, ignoring this development, now Khameini has raised objections over the Delhi riots. Iran is the fourth Islamic nation to register its protest over the Delhi riots. Earlier, Turkey, Indonesia and Pakistan had also criticised it. Like Iran, relations between Indonesia and India have always been cordial but now, there is a bitterness in them.
Although friendly relations between India and Iran go back centuries, a fissure seems to be developing in them now, with Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Khameini launching a scathing attack on the Narendra Modi government over the recent communal riots in Delhi. Khameini has posted a tweet that says, “The hearts of Muslims all over the world are grieving over the massacre of Muslims in India. The govt of India should confront extremist Hindus & their parties & stop the massacre of Muslims in order to prevent India’s isolation from the world of Islam.” Khameini has used the hashtag #IndianMuslimslnDanger along with this tweet, which is significant because Iran’s supreme leader has issued this statement despite the objections of the government of India. Earlier, on March 2, Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif had castigated the Modi government on the Delhi violence. He had written, “Iran condemns the wave of organized violence against Indian Muslims. For centuries, Iran has been a friend of India. We urge Indian authorities to ensure the wellbeing of ALL Indians & not let senseless thuggery prevail. Path forward lies in peaceful dialogue and rule of law.” The central government had summoned Ali Chegeni, the Iranian Ambassador to India, over this statement in Delhi. Raising objections over Zarif’s statement, Ali Chegeni was told that what happened in Delhi is India’s internal matter. However, ignoring this development, now Khameini has raised objections over the Delhi riots. Iran is the fourth Islamic nation to register its protest over the Delhi riots. Earlier, Turkey, Indonesia and Pakistan had also criticised it. Like Iran, relations between Indonesia and India have always been cordial but now, there is a bitterness in them.
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