India, China cradles of civilisation: Iran hits back at Trump's 'hellhole' dig

Iran on Thursday defended India and China, calling them “cradles of civilisation” after US President Donald Trump amplified a post that referred to the two Asian giants as “hellholes.”

“China and India are the cradles of civilisation. In fact, the hellhole is where its war-criminal president threatened to decimate civilisation in Iran,” the Iranian Embassy in Hyderabad wrote on X.

India and China are two of the world’s oldest living civilisations and trace their cultural and historical roots back more than 4,000 years. By contrast, the US was founded in 1776 and is approaching its 250th year of existence on July 4.

Iran's reaction came after Trump posted a controversial letter on Truth Social, criticising birthright citizenship in the US and alleging that immigrants exploit American systems, while describing countries such as India and China as “hellholes.”

Trump, on Truth Social, reposted content from conservative radio host Michael Savage, whose remarks referred to countries, including India and China, among “hellholes on the planet”, while criticising birthright citizenship in the US.

On his Savage Nation podcast, Savage argued against the Citizenship Clause, which grants citizenship to most children born on US soil, including those whose parents are undocumented or temporarily residing in the country. He claimed the policy is misused by immigrants from countries such as India and China.

In comments shared by Trump, Savage said that a child born in the US becomes an “instant citizen” and later enables family members from countries including India and China to immigrate.

“A baby here becomes an instant citizen, and then they bring in their entire family from China, or India or some other hellhole on the planet,” the letter stated.

Trump reposted both a transcript and video clip from the podcast, in which Savage criticised the role of the US Supreme Court in shaping birthright citizenship law and called for the issue to be decided through a national referendum.

The letter accompanying Savage's remarks went further, describing Indian and Chinese immigrants as "gangsters with laptops" who have "stepped on our flag".

The broader debate centres on the constitutional interpretation of birthright citizenship, which currently grants nationality to most individuals born in the US. The Trump administration has sought to challenge this understanding, and the issue remains under review by the US Supreme Court.

US-IRAN CEASEFIRE IN PLACE

The controversy also came against the backdrop of a fragile ceasefire involving Iran, extended by Trump this week amid uncertainty over a second round of negotiations. While signalling a pause in hostilities, Trump said a US naval blockade around the Strait of Hormuz remains in place. Tehran has criticised the move, calling it inconsistent with the spirit of the ceasefire.

Pressure on Iran through restrictions around the Strait of Hormuz – a key maritime route carrying a fifth of the world’s oil shipments – has heightened volatility in global energy markets.

For India, which relies heavily on imported crude and gas, disruptions in Gulf energy flows present a major vulnerability. China is considered better positioned to absorb shocks due to larger strategic reserves and a more diversified energy portfolio, while India faces greater exposure, particularly in supplies of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).