Iran has consented India to use its airspace to evacuate nationals trapped in the war with Israel. It is proof of the enduring bond between the two nations.
It was a rare diplomatic move amid rising Middle East tensions.
Soon, US forces hit Iran’s nuclear sites. The developments reinforced the fact that India must balance its long-standing connections with Iran and developing strategic alliance with Israel.
India-Iran history is steeped in history of cultural exchanges.
However, India and Israel’s defense and technological ties has also strengthened in the last 11 years.
The world could be isolating Iran but India has been unwavering in its stance. So far it has refused to take sides.
Reports have highlighted that India has significant interests in Iran. An important link in India’s goals for regional influence and connectivity, the Chabahar port continues to be a key component of this collaboration. Bypassing Pakistan and counterbalancing China’s Belt and Road Initiative and Pakistan’s Gwadar port, Chabahar provides India with an alternate route to Afghanistan and Central Asia. It is situated close to the Strait of Hormuz, which is the route taken by about 20% of the world’s oil commerce.
India is keen to develop Chabahar. Plans are on the anvil to link it with the International North-South Transport Corridor. Doing so gives India access to Central Asia and Europe.
Even US sanctions have failed to derail this strategic engagement, although India has diversified its energy imports by turning to Russia after halting Iranian crude purchases.
India, a master of diplomacy, has also advocated Iran’s inclusion in global groupings such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and BRICS.
And culturally, India has further solidified ties by recognizing Farsi as one of the classical languages in its New Education Policy—an acknowledgment of the deep historical connection.
Iran has always reciprocated India’s gestures — in 1994, Tehran blocked a UN Commission on Human Rights resolution that sought sanctions against India over Kashmir, a move backed by the Organisation of Islamic Countries and Western powers.
India has also voted against UN resolutions that are critical of Iran.
Both nations share converging concerns over the Taliban’s Sunni extremism and Pakistan’s destabilising role in Afghanistan.
Although formal diplomatic ties have existed since 1950, they intensified during Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s visit to Tehran in 2001, which produced the Tehran Declaration to strengthen mutual cooperation. Under Prime Minister Modi, who visited Iran in 2016 as the first Indian premier in 15 years and signed a historic trilateral deal on commerce, transit, and transportation involving Afghanistan, the relationship grew even more.
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