NEW DELHI: The Iranian Consulate in Hyderabad on Monday took a swipe at US secretary of state Marco Rubio over his visit to the Taj Mahal, saying the iconic monument was built by “the genius of Iranian architects” while accusing the United States of threatening Iranian civilisation.Rubio, who is on a four-day visit to India, visited the Mughal-era monument in Agra along with his wife Jeanette Rubio on Monday and described the Taj Mahal as “one of the love treasures of the world”.Soon after the visit, the Consulate General of the Islamic Republic of Iran-Hyderabad posted a sharp message on X targeting the US administration.“If Rubio knew the history or architecture, he wouldn’t have posed for a picture here. This monument was built out of love for the emperor’s Iranian wife, crafted by the genius of Iranian architects — meanwhile, his government today threatens to wipe out Iranian civilisation, insulting other civilisations,” the Iranian Consulate said in its post.The post also carried a photograph of Rubio and his wife posing in front of the Taj Mahal.
Remark linked to Trump’s warning during Iran conflict
The Iranian Consulate’s statement appeared to reference remarks made earlier by Donald Trump during the ongoing Iran-US-Israel conflict.Trump had said on April 7: “A whole civilisation will die tonight, never to be brought back again, if a deal is not reached,” while warning Iran amid escalating hostilities.
The US and Israel launched joint attacks on Iran on February 28, triggering retaliatory strikes and escalating tensions across West Asia.
Rubio’s India visit
Rubio’s India visit comes ahead of the Quad foreign ministers’ meeting scheduled in New Delhi on Tuesday. The Quad grouping includes India, the US, Australia and Japan.Rubio also visited the Amber Fort in Jaipur with his wife and US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor.During his visit to the Taj Mahal, Rubio wrote in the visitors’ book, “Thank You For Allowing Us To Visit One Of The Love Treasures Of The World.”Security arrangements were tightened around the Taj Mahal during Rubio’s visit, with tourists temporarily moved out of certain sections of the monument complex.
Iran rejects Rubio’s recent remarks on energy market
The latest remarks by the Iranian Consulate come a day after Iran rejected Rubio’s comments accusing Tehran of “holding the global energy market hostage”.In a statement issued by the Iranian Embassy in India, Tehran accused Washington of attempting to “distort the realities of the region” and defended its role in global energy trade.The statement said US sanctions on Iranian oil exports had disrupted global energy markets and were imposed “in violation of the principles of international law and the Charter of the United Nations”.Rubio, meanwhile, had said the US would not allow Iran to “hold the global energy market hostage” and stressed that Washington wanted the Strait of Hormuz to remain open without tolls.Speaking on the ongoing negotiations with Iran, Rubio had also said, “Work is still in progress. We thought we might have some news last night, maybe today”.
