Amid escalating tensions between the US and Iran, Abdul Majeed Hakim Elahi, representative of Iran’s Supreme Leader in India, on Monday responded strongly to US President Donald Trump’s recent comments, saying that starting a war in Iran was a “big mistake”, which had wide-ranging repercussions.
His comments came after Trump on Sunday issued a strong warning to Iran, urging the Islamic Republic to reopen the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz as conflict escalates in West Asia, while threatening dire consequences if it fails to do so.
Read also | Donald Trump extends Iran deadline in mysterious post. What do we expect if Tehran does not comply?
In response to Trump’s warning against Iran, Elahi said that such statements were not unprecedented and reflected a pattern seen over decades. “This is nothing new… They haven’t been able to do anything for us for 47 years. They can’t do anything else.” He told news agency ANI.
Elahi also rejected Trump’s assertion that the United States had already “won” the war, suggesting the conflict would continue. “We can respond to this in battle and in the streets. They wanted to do something within three days, but now more than a month has passed,” the Iranian news agency quoted the Iranian Supreme Leader’s representative in India as saying.
Even as he criticized Washington, Elahi stressed the need to shift focus towards de-escalation and diplomacy.
Read also | F-15 pilot’s 3-word message after downing Iran has US fearing ‘false signals’ trap.
“We have to talk about peace. We have to bring peace to the world… Indian diplomacy is very good, and they can also play a more important role in this issue… From the beginning, it was a very big mistake. This war was not only against Iran, this war was against all human beings; it was against the whole world. And you will see that the result of this war is that many people in different countries are suffering right now…”
Elahi also said that leaders’ language reflects their personal values and approach. “The language that every human being uses is a manifestation of his personality, humanity, and morals. Whoever uses rude language means that this is his personality. Even many members of the US Senate denied using that language.”
Global impact and call for collective action
Highlighting the broader ramifications of the conflict, Elahi pointed to the economic consequences that are already being felt globally, particularly in the energy and shipping sectors.
“All countries can play a big role in stopping this war. Because now the war is affecting a lot of people. The price of oil has gone up, even shipping rates have gone up… So I think it is necessary and very important to determine the exact time when the media and world leaders come together and ask President Trump to stop this war.”
While Elahi’s statements strongly defended Iran’s position, they also carried a broader appeal – urging countries, leaders and the media to work collectively to end the conflict and limit its impact on ordinary people.
(with ANI inputs)
