Tehran hits back at Trump, backs India
Iran on Thursday came out in defence of India and China, describing them as “cradles of civilisation” after US President Donald Trump referred to the two countries as “hellholes” while sharing a controversial post on immigration.
In a sharply worded response, the Iranian Embassy in Hyderabad said on X, “China and India are the cradles of civilisation. In fact, the hellhole is where its war-criminal president threatened to decimate civilisation in Iran.”
The remarks add a new diplomatic dimension to an already escalating controversy triggered by Trump’s social media activity on his platform, Truth Social.
India and China are widely regarded as among the world’s oldest continuous civilisations, with cultural and historical traditions stretching back over four millennia. In contrast, the United States, founded in 1776, is approaching its 250th year of independence.
Iran’s statement appeared aimed at countering Trump’s characterisation by highlighting the deep historical legacies of the two Asian nations.
The controversy stems from a letter shared by Trump that criticises birthright citizenship in the United States-a long-standing and contentious political issue. The post alleges that immigrants exploit American systems, claiming that children born on US soil automatically gain citizenship and can later sponsor family members for immigration.
Trump’s remarks, and the amplification of such rhetoric, have drawn criticism from multiple quarters and risk further straining diplomatic sensitivities. Iran’s intervention underscores how the controversy has extended beyond US domestic politics into the realm of international relations, drawing responses from countries with strategic and historical stakes in the narrative.
