India & Iran: Partners in an uncertain world

Relations between Iran and India are rooted in thousands of years of historical, cultural, and civilisational ties.

- Mohammad Reza Bahrami

Today, this relationship is defined less by short-term political considerations and more by realism, mutual interests, and geopolitical necessity —a necessity shaped by geography, regional connectivity, energy security, and the economic needs of both countries.

In a world where the international order is rapidly changing, many traditional concepts of foreign policy are also being transformed. The rigid and enduring alliances of the past no longer possess the certainty they once had during the Cold War. States now make decisions increasingly based on a combination of shifting interests, economic considerations, energy security, and geopolitical imperatives.

Under such conditions, perhaps the most enduring reality in international politics remains geography itself. Iran India relations are a clear example of this reality: A relationship that extends beyond short-term political developments and is grounded in lasting interests and shared strategic needs. As one of the world’s largest emerging economies, India requires energy security, stability in maritime routes, and reliable access to regional markets and corridors. Iran, meanwhile, sits at the crossroads of the Persian Gulf, Central Asia, the Caucasus, and the Indian Ocean, occupying a position that is practically impossible to exclude from regional equations. This geographical location makes Iran an important actor in Asian connectivity dynamics.