‘Inappropriate, disrespectful, irrelevant’: Indian government distances itself from ex-major’s remarks on Iran

May 11, 2025 by News Desk

The Indian government has condemned remarks made by retired army officer and TV personality Gaurav Arya against Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, calling his tone “inappropriate” and distancing itself from the views expressed in the viral video.

The condemnation came through the Indian Embassy in Iran, which clarified that Arya is a private citizen and that his statements do not reflect the official position of India.

“The Embassy of India in Iran would like to clarify that the individual in this video is a private Indian citizen,” the Embassy of India in Iran wrote on X. “His statements have no connection with the official position of India, and the Government of India considers the disrespectful tone used in the video to be inappropriate.”

The diplomatic friction emerged after Arya criticised Araghchi for visiting Pakistan before arriving in India, amid escalating tensions between the two neighbours following the Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 people dead.

In his video, Arya, known for his controversies, referred to the Iranian foreign minister as a “son of a pig” and displayed the word “PIG” alongside visuals of Araghchi’s visit to Islamabad. He questioned Iran’s neutrality and accused the diplomat of siding with Pakistan at a sensitive time.

Iran reacted sharply, with its embassy in New Delhi quoting a Persian proverb about hospitality and asking pointedly, “How about you?” in response to Arya’s video. “We Iranians consider our guests to be ‘beloved by God,’” the statement read.

Araghchi’s unscheduled visit to Pakistan on May 5 came just days before he co-chaired a bilateral Joint Commission meeting in New Delhi.

This marked his first official visit to India since assuming office in August 2024. Last month, he had also offered to mediate between India and Pakistan to help “forge greater understanding.”

News Desk

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