Strategic patience: Why Iran continues to keep India close despite US, Israel ties

In the complex West Asian geopolitics, the relationship between Tehran and New Delhi has long been a masterclass in strategic patience. Despite India’s deepening defence ties with Israel and its comprehensive strategic partnership with the United States, Iran has consistently chosen to keep India close, often using a tone of restraint and nuance rarely extended to other partners. The latest example came on Tuesday when the foreign ministers of the two countries spoke.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held a phone conversation with his Iranian counterpart Seyed Abbas Araghchi and described it as a “detailed discussion” on recent developments, adding that the two sides “agreed to remain in touch”.

This was their third such conversation since the West Asia crisis began and the first since Iran appointed Mojtaba Khamenei as the country’s new Supreme Leader, days after his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in a joint US-Israel military strike.

Tehran issued a detailed statement after the talks, strongly condemning the actions of the United States and Israel. However, it also noted that “the Indian Foreign Minister, while emphasising the importance of continuing and enhancing bilateral relations between Tehran and New Delhi, stressed the necessity of ongoing consultations to help restore stability to the region”.

In the statement, Iran refrained from using harsh language or public criticism against New Delhi. The restraint reflects a clear calculation that Tehran sees value in keeping India on its side even as regional rivalries intensify. Iran understands that India’s policy is to maintain engagement without taking sides.

India’s decision to condole the death of Khamanei also reflected the diplomatic approach New Delhi has long adopted towards Tehran -- maintaining respectful engagement even during periods of geopolitical tension.

Even before the direct US-Iran military confrontation, another key development had complicated matters -- US sanctions on the Chabahar port project, which India is helping develop. For Iran, Chabahar is not merely a port but a strategic gateway capable of mitigating the impact of sanctions.

Even when India slowed investments under Washington’s “maximum pressure” campaign, Tehran avoided harsh public criticism. In an interview with India Today, Araghchi described India’s reduced budgetary allocations for Chabahar as “disappointing for both sides” but expressed hope that work would continue in the future.

Iran’s strategy toward India rests largely on three considerations: energy security, the diaspora factor, and non-alignment.

India remains one of the world’s largest energy markets. While oil imports from Iran dropped sharply due to sanctions, the prospect of future trade, including potential local currency settlements, remains a strong incentive for Tehran to keep engagement alive.

The stability of West Asia is also vital for India because nearly 10 million Indians live and work in the Gulf. A major regional escalation would directly affect India’s diaspora, remittances and economic interests.

Tehran therefore sees value in ensuring that India remains a moderating voice in international forums such as the United Nations. By avoiding harsh rhetoric, Iran also makes it easier for Indian diplomats to justify continued engagement with Tehran both domestically and internationally.

Analysts suggest that Tehran understands India’s silence on certain regional strikes is not necessarily endorsement but a pragmatic reflection of its geopolitical constraints.

Iran’s interest in preserving ties with India is rooted in centuries of historical, cultural and economic connections. The two countries share civilisational links dating back thousands of years, with linguistic and cultural overlaps between Persian and Sanskrit traditions.

In modern diplomacy, India and Iran formalised relations soon after India’s independence through a friendship treaty in 1950. This was followed by key diplomatic milestones such as the Tehran Declaration in 2001 and the New Delhi Declaration in 2003.

The energy trade once formed the backbone of the relationship. Before US sanctions forced India to halt purchases in 2019, Iran supplied nearly 10 per cent of India’s crude oil imports.

Iran’s geography also makes it strategically significant. Along with Iraq, it controls much of the northern coastline of the Persian Gulf and lies adjacent to the Strait of Hormuz -- the narrow maritime passage through which nearly one-fifth of global oil trade flows. For India, which relies heavily on maritime energy imports, maintaining stable ties with Iran carries clear strategic importance.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Iran in 2016 and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s visit to India in 2018 produced several agreements focused on connectivity, trade and transit routes linking India with Afghanistan and Central Asia. A more recent one was Araghchi's New Delhi visit in May 2025, to co-chair the 20th India-Iran Joint Commission Meeting (JCM).

During crises, India has consistently emphasised de-escalation, dialogue and regional stability. This messaging allows New Delhi to maintain relations with all sides while positioning itself as a stabilising presence in a volatile region.

India remains one of the world’s largest energy markets, a key partner in regional connectivity projects and an influential voice among emerging economies. At a time when Western sanctions continue to constrain Iran’s economy, keeping India engaged offers both economic opportunities and diplomatic leverage.

The tone of Tehran’s diplomacy reflects a clear objective: ensuring that India remains within its circle of partners rather than drifting entirely into rival geopolitical camps.

For New Delhi, maintaining engagement with Iran aligns with its broader regional strategy, preserving access to critical trade routes, energy supplies and strategic connectivity corridors.

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