INDIA-IRAN-CHINA RELATIONS.

1. Iran and China are close to concluding a 25-year strategic partnership.

2. This has generated considerable apprehensions in India.

3. Iran also has decided to undertake the construction of the Chabahar-Zahedan railway line on its own because of delays by India.

Iran-China

1. Iran is a key source of energy supplies and a significant component of the Belt and Road Initiative of China.

2. Iran is also a lucrative market for its project exports and manufactures.

3. But similar to Indian projects, other projects including China’s are delayed in Iran due to US sanctions.

3. Even, Chinese purchases of Iranian oil have decreased substantially.

4. The overall bilateral trade between Iran and China fell.

5. In 2016, an ambitious target of $600-billion trade in 10 years was announced but it has not taken off.

6. Despite this, Iran’s interest in the 25-year strategic partnership with China is to safeguard itself from getting isolated in the global arena by the US.

7. Also, Iran is cautious of its relations with China.

India’s strategic concerns

1. China plans to construct a new port at Jask at the mouth of the Hormuz strait.

2. If the port were operated by China along with Gwadar on the Pakistani coast, Chinese naval presence in the Western Indian Ocean would increase.

3. This would threaten not just  India’s maritime security but also the maritime security of the Arab states.

Way Forward

India’s policy should include the following

1. India should maintain close ties with Iran, the Arab states and Israel.

2. Calls for downgrading ties with Iran to align more closely with the US have to be ignored.

3. The US may revive the Iranian nuclear deal. A new US administration after the elections, could change the downgraded ties with Iran.