Indo-Iran Bonds Have Withstood the Test of Time

A foreign policy analyst based in New Delhi believes the strategic ties between Iran and India will survive the hostilities and pressures unleashed by some countries.

In a piece written for IRNA, Seema Guha , who is a veteran journalist and commentator on international affairs writing for leading Indian news outlets, said “India’s ties with Iran have the stamp of history. Leaders of both countries have always emphasized their civilizational links.”

However she concurred that “The relationship has been unable to achieve its true potential, despite the excellent political relations. Economic ties have suffered, mainly because of crippling sanctions the US had slapped on Iran for its nuclear program.”

Guha said the US pulling out of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal “has put India in a fix.”

Elsewhere in her article the analyst wrote, “India’s energy security is closely linked to Iran. India imported 4.3 million barrels of crude oil per day in June, of which 680,000 barrels came from Iran. But there are already indications that the government is planning to reduce imports of Iranian oil when the oil sanctions kick in this November. Washington’s decision to block international companies business with Iran, from US financial markets is a major obstacle. Unlike European countries like France, Germany, Delhi has not publicly spoken about defying the US ban on doing business with Iran.”

Pointing to the deep roots of cooperation between the two countries, she said, “Yet India has strategic interests in Iran. The Chabahar port project, which bypasses Pakistan and opens India’s trade links to Afghanistan and the Central Asian Republics is of great significance to Delhi. The [Indian Prime Minister Narendra] Modi government is hoping that the US will not target India for Chabahar, as one of the aims of the project is to promote economic activity in Afghanistan. India is likely to raise this point with the US.”

India hopes that the “US for its own interests in stabilizing Afghanistan may not target Chabahar. After all, despite US protests, the Modi government has gone ahead with negotiations on Russia’s S-400 missile. When national interest is involved Delhi will do what is best for India. Perhaps India will reduce oil purchase with Iran and go ahead with the Chabahar project, even if Washington objects. But the government is so far keeping its cards close to its chest,” the news agency quoted Guha as saying.