Why Iranian President Hasan Rouhani's visit to India is significant

Iranian President Hasan Rouhani begins his three-day visit to India from today. He will arrive at Hyderabad's Begumpet airport on Thursday evening and during his visit, the two countries will discuss regional and international issues of mutual interest.

Rouhani's visit, his first after becoming Iran's President in 2013, is significant in many ways.

Rouhani is persona non grata in some countries such as the United States and Israel, which views a nuclear Iran as an existential threat. US President Donald Trump has already threatened to pull out of the Iran nuclear deal and impose more sanctions against Tehran.

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In such a scenario, Prime Minister Narendra Modi - who has invested a great deal of time and energy to strengthen ties with both the US and Israel - has signalled his intent to engage Iran. In doing so, Modi has showcased Indian foreign policy's dexterity, maturity and nimbleness.

The visit assumes significance in a regional context too.

Israel and Iran have been, and are, at loggerheads. Their proxy war manifested itself most recently in Syria, after Israel shot down an alleged Iranian drone that entered Israeli airspace and Syrian forces retaliated by bringing down an Israeli military aircraft.

President Bashar al-Assad of Syria enjoys the support of Iran and Russia. But, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Iran, coupled with its influence in Lebanon and Syria, poses an existential threat to the state of Israel.

The messaging is clear: India will independently pursue ties with most countries of consequence in the Arab world and the Persian Gulf.

In recent months, India has straddled competing narratives or interests in West Asia with finesse, be it the Israel-Palestine conundrum, or the Saudi Arabia-Iran rivalry for regional supremacy.

If Modi became the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Israel in July last year, he also made it a point to visit Palestine on his most recent West Asia swing.

He visited the Sunni Saudi Arabia and the Shi'ite Iran in 2016, and travelled to the United Arab Emirates and Qatar too. He has also hosted a number of West Asian leaders in New Delhi. Later this month, King Abdullah of Jordan is expected to visit India.

Rouhani will land at the Begumpet Airport around 4pm on Thursday where Union Minister of State for Power R K Singh will welcome him.

During his two-day visit to the city, the Iranian president will be accompanied by 21 delegates.

Rouhani will address a congregation at the historic Mecca Masjid in Hyderabad after offering Friday prayers, sources said, adding that religious scholars from different schools of thought will also participate in the session. He will also interact with the Iranians settled in Hyderabad.

Rouhani is scheduled to visit the Salar Jung Museum on Friday.

This is the second time Rouhani will be visiting Hyderabad, but it is his first visit after assuming charge as the president. He will leave for New Delhi tomorrow.