The deleted post stated, “A respected sister from Kashmir donated the gold kept as a memento of her husband, who passed away 28 years ago, with a heart full of love and solidarity for the people of #Iran. Your tears and pure emotions are the greatest source of comfort for the people of Iran and will never be forgotten. Thank you #Kashmir. Thank you #India.”
To this post, Pakistani trolls reacted sharply, forcing Iran to withdraw the post. After that, though the Iranian embassy retweeted the Kashmiri donation news, but without mentioning India, to please its supporters in Pakistan.
Notably, the Iranian Embassy in India has opened a new account with the State Bank of India and has now shared the details along with a QR code to receive donations from those willing to contribute. While money from Indians is acceptable to the Iranian embassy, India’s sovereignty is not.
The embassy later tweeted the video of the woman again but this time, neither it mentioned India nor Kashmir. "We will never forget your kindness," the post reads.
Critics say this shows the duality of countries like Iran and Turkey, which want business in India but don’t want to back India’s sovereignty. Even, Indian social media users were quick to spot the double standards.
Notably, Iran had earlier blocked India-bound fuel and gas ships’ transit through the Strait of Hormuz and opened the channel only after multiple rounds of negotiations with the Government of India.
On India's diplomatic response to the West Asia conflict, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated in the Lok Sabha that India's stand has been clear from the very beginning , one of expressing deep concern, advocating de-escalation, and opposing attacks on civilians and on energy and transport infrastructure.
Prime Minister Modi informed the Lok Sanbha that he has engaged with all relevant West Asian leaders and urged them to reduce tensions and end the conflict, and emphasising that attacks on commercial ships and obstruction of international waterways like the Strait of Hormuz are wholly unacceptable, PM Modi asserted, "India, through diplomacy, is making continuous efforts for the safe passage of Indian ships even amidst the war environment."
The outrage stems from a controversial tweet by Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, posted on September 16, 2024 (the birth anniversary of Prophet Mohammed).
The "Hypocrisy" at the Heart of the Outrage
Indians and the Indian government reacted sharply, labeling the statement as "misinformed and unacceptable." The charge of hypocrisy is based on several key points:
Interference in Sovereignty: The tweet was seen as a direct interference in India's internal affairs.
Critics pointed out that while Iran demands respect for its own sovereignty, it frequently comments on Indian domestic issues like Kashmir, the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), and the 2020 Delhi riots. Iran’s Own Human Rights Record: India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a pointed rebuttal, advising countries to "look at their own record" before commenting on others.
This was a clear reference to Iran's treatment of its own minorities and the suppression of protests (such as the "Woman, Life, Freedom" movement). Selective Concern: Many noted that Iran rarely comments on the treatment of Uyghur Muslims in China, suggesting that its "moral" stance is strategically selective based on geopolitical alliances.
Timeline of Friction
This was not an isolated incident. Relations have been strained by repeated social media commentary from the Supreme Leader's office:
| Year | Event | Khamenei's Comment / Action |
| 2019 | Abrogation of Article 370 | Expressed concern over "oppressed" Muslims in Kashmir. |
| 2020 | Delhi Riots | Called on India to "confront extremist Hindus" and stop the "massacre." |
| 2024 | Prophet's Birthday Tweet | Listed India alongside Gaza and Myanmar as places of Muslim "suffering." |
| 2026 | Current Context | Following reports of Khamenei's death in early 2026, a political row erupted in India over the government's "silence" vs. his history of anti-India tweets. |
Why Indians Are Responding Now
The outrage has been amplified by the contrast in diplomacy. India has historically maintained a "strategic autonomy," often supporting Iran against Western sanctions and investing in the Chabahar Port. Indians on social media expressed that being equated with a war zone like Gaza is a "diplomatic stab in the back" from a nation India has consistently treated as a friend.
Would you like me to find more details on how this tweet specifically impacted the development of the Chabahar Port project or other India-Iran trade deals?
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