India’s Delicate Balancing Act: Navigating Ties with Iran Amid Middle East Turmoil
As tensions in the Middle East escalate rapidly, India finds itself walking a diplomatic tightrope — carefully maintaining long-standing ties with Iran while deepening strategic cooperation with Israel. While Iran has been a time-tested partner for India, rooted in centuries of cultural, civilisational, and geopolitical bonds, Israel has emerged as a key defence and technology ally in the past decade, especially under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The recent flare-up between Iran, Israel, and the United States has again placed India in a complex position. Notably, when conflict broke out between Iran and Israel, Iran made a special gesture by opening its airspace exclusively for India to evacuate its nationals. And when the U.S. bombed Iranian nuclear sites shortly after, Iran reached out to India almost immediately — underscoring the deep trust Tehran places in New Delhi.
Despite this goodwill, India has remained firmly non-aligned in the current crisis, adhering to its long-standing foreign policy principle of “dialogue and diplomacy.” This strategic ambiguity reflects India’s attempt to preserve its vital interests with both sides without being drawn into any regional confrontation.
Iran’s Strategic Importance to India
India and Iran’s ties go far beyond symbolic gestures. Iran is critical to India’s long-term strategic goals, especially in the realm of regional connectivity and energy security. The most significant symbol of this cooperation is the Chabahar port project, situated on Iran’s southeastern coast. Chabahar is not just a trade gateway; it’s a strategic lever for India to counter China’s expanding influence via the Belt and Road Initiative and to bypass Pakistan to access Afghanistan and Central Asia.
The port also provides India a foothold near the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway through which nearly 20% of the world’s oil passes. India signed a 10-year contract in 2023 to operate Chabahar port, highlighting its commitment to the partnership. However, development has been slow, with Iran even dropping India from a parallel rail line project to Zahedan in 2020 due to delays.
Even though U.S. sanctions led India to halt crude oil imports from Iran, the two countries have maintained robust relations. Unlike others, India has continued engagement, balancing its ties with Washington while protecting strategic cooperation with Tehran.
Mutual Support on Global Platforms
Beyond infrastructure and trade, Iran and India have supported each other on the global stage. In 1994, when the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC), backed by the West, pushed a UN resolution against India over Kashmir, Iran played a decisive role in blocking it at the UN Commission on Human Rights.
India, in turn, has responded with diplomatic restraint regarding Iran’s internal affairs. In recent years, India abstained from voting on UN resolutions condemning Iran’s human rights record, including the case involving Mahsa Amini’s death and subsequent protests. In 2023, India also voted against a UN resolution critical of Iran’s human rights situation, reinforcing the mutual understanding between the two countries.
Furthermore, India has backed Iran’s membership in key multilateral groupings such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and BRICS, underlining New Delhi’s recognition of Iran’s importance in regional geopolitics.
Cultural and Historical Connect
India’s relationship with Iran is rooted in shared history and cultural affinity. The Ministry of External Affairs describes it as a “millennia-long history of interactions,” enhanced by people-to-people ties and educational cooperation. India has recognised Farsi (Persian) as one of the nine classical languages in its New Education Policy — a nod to the enduring cultural legacy between the two nations.
High-level visits have also reinforced bilateral engagement. PM Modi’s 2016 visit to Iran — the first by an Indian Prime Minister in over 15 years — was a milestone, culminating in a trilateral agreement with Iran and Afghanistan to boost connectivity and trade. This followed the 2001 Tehran Declaration signed by then PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee to advance cooperation in energy, defence, and culture.
Balancing Iran and Israel
While India’s ties with Iran are deeply entrenched, its growing partnership with Israel, particularly in defence, cybersecurity, and innovation, cannot be overlooked. Since 2014, under PM Modi’s leadership, ties with Israel have grown rapidly, with India becoming one of Israel’s biggest defence markets. Modi also became the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Israel in 2017, marking a shift in India’s West Asia policy.
India’s challenge today lies in not choosing sides but ensuring its strategic autonomy is preserved. As Middle East tensions mount, New Delhi’s measured diplomacy will be crucial in safeguarding its interests — while reinforcing its identity as a credible and balanced voice in global geopolitics.
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