Iran Takes Swipe at Rubio Over Taj Mahal Visit
Rubio, accompanied by his wife, visited the UNESCO World Heritage Site in Agra and shared photographs from the visit on social media
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s visit to the Taj Mahal during his India tour drew sharp remarks from Iran amid ongoing tensions between Washington and Tehran.
Rubio, accompanied by his wife, visited the UNESCO World Heritage Site in Agra and shared photographs from the visit on social media. The images prompted a reaction from the Consulate General of Iran in Hyderabad, which highlighted the Persian influence behind the monument.
In a post on X, the Iranian consulate suggested that Rubio was overlooking the historical and cultural links between Iran and the Taj Mahal.
“This monument was built out of love for an emperor’s Iranian wife and crafted by the genius of Iranian architects,” the consulate wrote, adding that "his government today threatens to wipe out Iranian civilization, insulting other civilisations"
The remarks come amid heightened tensions between the United States and Iran over ongoing geopolitical and military disputes in West Asia.
The Taj Mahal, commissioned by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, is widely regarded as one of the finest examples of Indo-Islamic architecture.
