Context

• Relations between Iran and India extend beyond conventional diplomacy, drawing strength from millennia of civilisational continuity.
• Long before modern political borders, both societies emerged from a shared Indo-Iranian civilisation, rooted in common linguistic, cultural, and spiritual traditions.
• This historical affinity has endured political change and now intersects with contemporary strategic, economic, and security interests.
• In a shifting global order marked by multipolarity, Iran and India are well positioned to transform their ancient bond into a forward-looking partnership.

Historical and Civilisational Foundations

• The earliest connections between Iran and India originated in the Indo-Iranian world, whose legacy is evident in the parallels between the Avesta and the Rigveda.
• These texts reflect shared mythologies, ethical values, and cosmological views that shaped early social organisation.
• Despite later migrations and political divergence, this common heritage sustained a sense of cultural kinship.
• One of the most enduring manifestations of this relationship was the prominence of the Persian language in India.
• For centuries, Persian functioned as a medium of administration, diplomacy, and intellectual life across the subcontinent.
• This interaction fostered the development of the Indian Style (Sabk-e Hendi) in Persian poetry, blending Persian literary form with Indian philosophical depth.
• The work of Mirza Abdul-Qadir Bedil Dehlavi epitomised this synthesis, leaving a lasting imprint on Persian literary tradition and Indo-Iranian cultural exchange.

Transition to Modern Strategic Realities

• While historical memory provides depth and legitimacy, contemporary relations are shaped by pragmatic considerations.
• As global power structures evolve and Asia gains prominence, Iran and India increasingly share strategic objectives, including regional stability and foreign policy autonomy.
• A central pillar of this engagement is energy security cooperation.
• India’s rapidly growing economy requires sustained access to hydrocarbons, while Iran’s vast oil and gas reserves position it as a natural partner.
• This complementarity reflects a mutually beneficial relationship grounded in economic necessity rather than sentiment alone.

Key Aspects of India-Iran Relations

• Connectivity, Trade, and Geoeconomic Cooperation
  • Transport and connectivity initiatives represent one of the most consequential dimensions of bilateral cooperation.
  • India’s involvement in developing Iran’s Chabahar Port highlights the strategic importance of alternative trade routes that reduce dependence on traditional maritime corridors.
  • Iran’s geographical position further enhances its role in the International North-South Transport Corridor, linking South Asia to Russia and Northern Europe through a shorter and more cost-effective route than the Suez Canal.
  • Together, Chabahar Port and INSTC elevate Iran’s role as a Eurasian transit hub while expanding India’s access to continental markets.
• Security Cooperation and External Challenges
  • Beyond economics, Iran and India face common security challenges, particularly the spread of extremism and terrorism across West and South Asia.
  • Quiet but sustained security and counterterrorism cooperation has therefore become an essential component of bilateral relations.
  • External pressures and geopolitical rivalries have at times constrained engagement.
  • Nevertheless, India has generally navigated these complexities through strategic pragmatism, balancing global partnerships while safeguarding national interests.
  • For both countries, developing alternative financial mechanisms and reducing vulnerability to external constraints remain important objectives.

Prospects for Future Cooperation

• To ensure long-term sustainability, the relationship must diversify beyond traditional energy trade. Expanding collaboration in knowledge-based sectors offers significant potential.
• India’s strengths in information technology and innovation complement Iran’s advances in nanotechnology, medical sciences, and research-intensive industries.
• Such cooperation can gradually transform the relationship into an innovation-driven future partnership, capable of generating shared growth and technological self-reliance.

Conclusion

• Iran and India represent two historical expressions of a deeply interconnected civilisation.
• Their relationship, shaped by ancient cultural bonds and reinforced by modern strategic needs, possesses exceptional resilience.
• As the two nations commemorate seventy-five years of diplomatic relations, they face a critical opportunity to translate historical goodwill into concrete cooperation.
• By aligning cultural affinity with economic, security, and technological collaboration, Iran and India can forge a partnership that strengthens regional stability, enhances prosperity, and reflects both their shared past and collective future.