New Delhi: Iran in Hyderabad, the official account of the Consulate General of Iran in the city, took a jibe at US Secretary of State Marco Rubio Monday on X, during his ongoing India visit which featured a visit to the Taj Mahal with his wife Jeanette.
The post asked whether Rubio had knowledge about the history of the monument, since if he had, he would not have posed for a picture with Jeanette in front of it.
“This monument was built out for the love of emperor’s Iranian wife, crafted by the genius of Iranian architects—meanwhile his government today threatens to wipe out Iranian civilization, insulting other civilizations,” read the post, in a veiled reference to US President Donald Trump’s social media post where he threatened to end the Iranian civilisation.
The jibe by the Iranian Consulate in Hyderabad came against the backdrop of the conflict in West Asia, which began with the US and Israel striking targets inside Iran on 28 February.
If Rubio knew the history or architecture, he wouldn't have posed for a picture here. This monument was built out for the love of emperor's Iranian wife, crafted by the genius of Iranian architects — meanwhile his government today threatens to wipe out Iranian civilization,… pic.twitter.com/zi4CNU3u7U
— Iran In Hyderabad (@IraninHyderabad) May 25, 2026
The Taj Mahal was commissioned by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, who was of Persian heritage. The monument, including its bulbous dome and Charbagh gardens, and exquisite wall calligraphy, were heavily influenced by Persian architecture.
The Mughal Empire, one of the most powerful medieval empires in the Subcontinent and the world, borrowed largely from Persia in matters of language and culture. Persia was looked up to at that time as examples of stable administration and refinement. Rulers of the empire syncretised Persian with Indian elements to create a unique blend of Indo-Persian culture. The official language of the Mughal court was also Persian, owing to the prestige and legacy it held in the Islamic world, having been used as the language of administration even in the Delhi Sultanate, which preceded the Mughal Empire.
The Hindustani language, it is believed, was born as a result of Persian’s influence on Old Hindi. Mughlai cuisine, now famous as an Indian speciality, also came into existence as a culmination of South Asian, Central Asian and Iranian food habits.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is in India on a three-day visit, referred to the Taj Mahal as “One of the wonders of the world”.
(Edited by Amrtansh Arora)
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