Mirwaiz Umar Farooq (ANI/ file photo)

SRINAGAR: Kashmir’s chief cleric, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Friday met Iran’s ambassador to India, Dr Mohammad Fathali, and expressed condolences over the death of its top leaders in Israel-US attacks.According to a statement issued by Mirwaiz, he led delegation of the Muttahida Majlis-e-Ulema, an amalgam of religious organisations of Kashmir, and conveyed his condolences over the killing of Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, his family members and other leaders, and expressed “deep solidarity with the people of Iran in their hour of hardship”.The delegation condemned the war, which it said was “imposed” on Iran, and expressed hope that diplomatic efforts would prevail and peace and stability would be restored. Others who were part of the delegation included Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam, Aga Syed Hassan Al-Mosvi, and Aga Syed Hadi AlMosvi, Aga Syed Mujtaba.During the meeting, Mirwaiz also highlighted the “deep-rooted cultural, historical and religious ties between Kashmir and Iran”. Kashmir has long been referred to as “Iran-e-Sagheer” (little Iran), he stated, stressing that it reflected the enduring bond between Kashmiris and the people of Iran.Thousands of people in Kashmir had gathered at Srinagar’s Lal Chowk and later in Budgam to condemn the killing of Khamenei earlier this month. The Valley also witnessed a large-scale donation drive following an appeal by the Iranian embassy, with people contributing cash, gold, traditional copperware, household items, vehicles and even livestock.Former CM and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti was the first political figure from J&K to visit the embassy to express solidarity with Iran, followed by National Conference MPs. On March 10, NC president Farooq Abdullah visited the Iranian diplomatic mission and signed the condolence book on Khamenei’s death.