A light-hearted social media exchange between Iranian diplomatic missions in India has attracted attention online after Iran’s Consulate General in Mumbai and its Hyderabad counterpart engaged in a playful “meme war” comparing the two cities.
The conversation started when an Iranian from Hyderabad posted about her experiences in Mumbai, praising local favorites like bun maska, vada pav and pav bhaji.
“Things I loved about Mumbai? Chai with bun mask, vada pav and pav bhaji that could fix a bad day in 3 bites,” the post read.
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However, he quickly changed his tone and added, “I believe in ‘Roti and Respect’, but stepping into South India… Bhai, that’s a different league altogether; as India unlocks its ‘Sky Mode’, believe me, it’s more beautiful.”
Mumbai responds with points of their own
The Mumbai consulate responded with a witty defense of the city’s diversity and food culture.
“When your city wakes up to the ocean, has the world and just your street corner is hosting a global food summit?” the post said.
“#Mumbai doesn’t do ‘either/or’… it does ‘aur kya hai menu mein?’”
The exchange further escalated as the Hyderabad clique warned of starting a meme war with the South.
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“Brother, never try to start a meme war here because Hyderabad and South will win the game eventually. South is India’s IT hub, we can also help you with post defeat medicine,” it wrote.
Mumbai fired again with another point referencing Maharashtra’s strengths.
“Start a meme war with Maharashtra? Vaccination center in Pune, we are already immune to jokes. We don’t need a cure, balance the medicine and the point.”
Back and forth has attracted attention for its witty tone and use of regional references, highlighting the food, technology and healthcare sectors across regions.
From banter to geopolitical commentary
The conversation took a more serious turn when Iran’s consulate in Mumbai released a separate report targeting US President Donald Trump’s remarks.
The post shared a video showcasing the cultural and geographical diversity of Maharashtra, suggesting that the visit might offer perspective.
“Maybe someone should book a one-way cultural detox for Mr. Trump, it might just cut down on the random bakwaas,” the consulate wrote.
“Whenever you see India, then speak,” he added.
Explaining the “Hellhole” Controversy.
The remarks came after Trump re-shared a podcast by US commentator Michael Savage in which India, China and other countries were referred to as “hellholes”.
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The podcast, which discussed US birthright laws, included claims about immigrants from those countries, drawing criticism for its tone and language.
Trump’s sharing of the clip was widely interpreted as an endorsement of the comments.
India’s Official Answer
India strongly objected to these remarks. Without directly naming Trump, the State Department said the comments were “uninformed, inappropriate and in poor taste.”
“They certainly do not reflect the reality of India-US relations, which have long been based on mutual respect and common interests,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.
The following is the US response
Following the backlash, the US embassy in Delhi issued a statement seeking to clarify Trump’s position.
Spokesman Christopher Elms said Trump considered India a “great” country and spoke positively about his relationship with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
