A delegation from Mumbai under the India-Iran Friendship Forum met Iran Consul General Hasan Mohseni Fard at the Iranian consulate in South Mumbai recently to condemn Israel’s attack on Iran. The delegation comprised Vishwas Utagi and Dhananjay Shinde of the Indian National Congress (INC), along with Feroze Mithiborwala, Nuruddin Naik, MA Khalid, Guddi SL and Farouk Mapkar from Hum Bharat Ke Log (HBKL). There was also Comrade Ravi Joshi and Dr Salim Khan (Jamaat-i-Islami).

The group strongly supported the right of Iran to defend itself. Mithiborwala said, “The consul general informed us that Iran had given a fitting reply and had succeeded in targeting more than 150 strategic and military targets within Israel. Iran also succeeded in destroying two US-made state-of-the-art F-35s fighter jets by using its indigenously manufactured surface-to-air missiles, which itself is a major blow to US hegemony, adding that Israel’s aggression was backed by the US, UK and other NATO allies.”

Mithiborwala added, “The delegation’s visit was a show of support for Iran in its struggle against Zionist Israel and US aggression and hegemony.” The delegation, which was also carrying a banner expressing its sentiment, said that the consul general stressed on India and Iran’s ancient ties. “There is significant goodwill for each other and this relationship must grow stronger,” he said.