By Kerry Givens
U.S. has made no qualms about its aggressive policy to isolate Iran and to ensure that its nuclear program is used for purely civilian purposes. India has never shared U.S. assessments of Iran as an aggressive regional power. India-Iran relations have traditionally been positive and, in January 2003, the two countries launched a “strategic partnership” with the signing of the “New Delhi Declaration” and seven other substantive agreements.
Indian leaders regularly speak of “historical ties” between the two countries, a reference to the interactions of Persian and Indus Valley civilizations over a period of millennium. As U.S. relations with India have grown both deeper and more expansive in the new century, some in Washington believe that New Delhi’s friendship with Tehran could become a significant obstacle to the further development of U.S.-India ties. However, India-Iran relations are unlikely to derail the further development of a U.S.-India global partnership. At the same time, given a clear Indian interest in maintaining positive ties with Iran — especially in the area of energy commerce and trade. There is a major conflict from the perspective of the India government, with the hopes of future economic cooperation in the balance as well military backing to offset the Pakistani-Chinese regional aggressions in the mountainous border regions as well as the Pacific. India must make a decision between its short-term energy policy and its long-term economic policy, the problem is India sees them both as one in the same.
Many in Congress voice concern about India’s relations with Iran and their relevance to U.S. interests. Some worry that New Delhi’s policies toward Tehran’s controversial nuclear program may not be compatible with those of Washington. There are further U.S. concerns that India plans to seek energy resources from Iran, thus benefiting financially a country the United States is seeking to isolate. Indian firms have in recent years taken long-term contracts for purchase of Iranian gas and oil, and India supports proposed construction of a pipeline to deliver Iranian natural gas to India through Pakistan. The Obama Administration has expressed strong opposition to any gas pipeline projects involving Iran, but top Indian officials insist the project is in India’s national interest. This also runs counter to the embargo planned for this summer that could yield the sought after results or pave the way for a unilateral military strike on hidden nuclear facilities by the Israeli government. By any count this will no doubt strain US-Indian relations and result in regime change in a already fragile and fractured Iranian government.
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