India has responded sharply to comments made by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei regarding the treatment of Muslim minorities in India. On Monday, India’s Ministry of External Affairs issued a statement condemning Khamenei’s remarks, calling them “misinformed and unacceptable.” The statement emphasized that countries should reflect on their own records before criticizing others.

The disagreement arose from a social media post by Khamenei in which he said, “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.” Despite generally positive relations between India and Iran, including strong economic ties such as the recent 10-year contract to develop and operate the Iranian port of Chabahar, Khamenei has previously voiced criticism regarding issues affecting Muslims in India and the Muslim-majority region of Kashmir.

India has faced criticism under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, which has been accused of worsening the mistreatment of Muslims since Modi’s administration began in 2014. Reports have highlighted a rise in attacks on Muslims, hate speech, and instances of mob lynching related to the protection of cows, a sacred animal in Hinduism. Additionally, the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act, which offers Indian citizenship to non-Muslim refugees from neighboring countries, has been criticized for excluding Muslims and raising concerns about the secular nature of India’s democracy.

At the same time, Iran faces its own criticism for its treatment of minorities. A recent UN report indicated that ethnic and religious minorities, particularly Kurds and Baluchis, have been disproportionately affected by the Iranian government’s crackdown following mass protests in 2022.