The top diplomat went on to say that the crisis could only be resolved through peaceful dialogue and the rule of law.
“Iran condemns the wave of organised violence against Indian Muslims. For centuries, Iran has been a friend of India. We urge Indian authorities to ensure the wellbeing of all Indians and not let senseless thuggery prevail. Path forward lies in peaceful dialogue and rule of law,” The Iranian foreign minister tweeted.
Foreign policy observers feel the Iranian comments could be an expression of resentment and anger by Tehran against the recent visit of US President Donald Trump to India and New Delhi laying out the red carpet for President Trump. It could also be seen as a sign of discord at a time when Iran is battling a severe outbreak of Coronavirus that has claimed many lives in the west Asian nation. Reeling under US sanctions, Iran has moved considerably closer to China.
But India needs Iran especially for the strategic sea-land access to Afghanistan and central Asia through the Iranian port of Chabahar. The Iranian reaction follows last week’s riots in north-east Delhi that has left several dead.
India on Tuesday summoned the Iranian ambassador and lodged protest over Tehran’s comments on the recent incidents of “organised violence” against Muslims in Delhi, local media reported.
Envoy Ali Chegeni was told that Iran’s foreign minister “commented on a matter which is purely internal to India,” sources told the Press Trust of India.
Iran condemns violence against Muslims in India
Condemning the communal violence, Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif had urged Indian authorities to “ensure the well being of all Indians and not let senseless thuggery prevail”.
“Path forward lies in peaceful dialogue and rule of law,” he tweeted on Monday.
Besides 47 fatalities, shops, schools and homes were burnt as thugs terrorized northeast Delhi residents for four days before Delhi Police, criticised for their slow reaction, managed to get things under control.
PM Imran likens Delhi ‘pogrom’ to Kristallnacht
The riots, which occurred during a two-day visit by US President Donald Trump, have triggered mass condemnation.
The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation has called on the Indian government to stop “anti-Muslim violence” and the desecration of Islamic places of worship in the country.
The trigger to the violence was allegedly a hate speech by a local politician of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party against peaceful protesters disapproving India’s new citizenship law.
The controversial legislation grants citizenship to non-Muslim migrants from three neighbouring countries.
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