Just hours after warning of a massive strike on Iran, Donald trump hit pause. So, what changed? Inside the intense backchannel diplomacy, the GCC divide, UAE’s hardline position, and why gulf states feared a wider regional collapse.


Gulf's Reality Check on Iran Forces Trump to Call Off Iran Strikes

<p>At the first India-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) meet in Saudi capital Riyadh on Monday (Sep 9), India's External Affairs Minister Dr EAM Jaishankar emphasised on the growing partnership between the two sides.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Pointing to "3Ps – People, Prosperity and Progress" of ties, Jaishankar said: "People-to-people ties are the bedrock of our relationship. Close to nine million Indians work and live amongst you, acting as a living bridge between us. Their contributions to your economic progress are widely recognised."&nbsp;</p>

<p>He thanked the GCC countries, which comprise of six Arab state viz., Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman&nbsp;for taking care of the large Indian diaspora in their countries.</p>

<p>India’s economic linkages with the GCC have increased steadily, especially due to growth in oil imports. Pointing that GCC is a "cornerstone of global energy supply", EAM called for "deepening" collaboration as that will help in "stabilising markets, driving innovation and enhancing energy security." India, which is the world's fifth largest economy is a major importer of energy.</p>

<p>The meeting adopted a Joint Action Plan 2024-2028 for undertaking various joint activities in diverse areas including health, trade, security, agriculture and food security, transportation, energy, culture, amongst others.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/israel-hamas-war-indian-pm-modi-talks-to-israeli-prime-minister-netanyahu-750963"><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Israel-Hamas War: Indian PM Modi talks to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu</strong></a></p>

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<p>During the meet, the situation in Gaza also came up. Terming the current situation in Gaza as a "concern", the top Indian diplomat said that "we are deeply pained by the continuing death of innocent civilians. Any response must take into account the principles of humanitarian law". He also extended India's support for a ceasefire.</p>

<p>On the sidelines of the meeting, the Indian external affairs minister also met the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Qatar Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman, the Foreign minister of Saudi Arabia Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, the Foreign minister of Oman Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood, the Foreign Minister of Kuwait, Abdullah Ali Al Yahya, Foreign Minister of Bahrain Dr Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/gaza-war-indias-jaishankar-calls-for-ceasefire-as-soon-as-possible-urges-two-state-solution-757215"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;Gaza war: India's Jaishankar calls for 'ceasefire as soon as possible', urges two-state solution</strong></a></p>

<p>What makes Monday's meet in Riyadh significant is, so far such meetings used to happen in the form of troika -"EAM and the GCC" troika -- that is GCC-SG, foreign minister of the country holding the current GCC presidency, and foreign minister of the country that will hold next GCC presidency, and any other foreign minister(s)/senior officials from the GCC countries.</p>


At the first India-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) meet in Saudi capital Riyadh on Monday (Sep 9), India's External Affairs Minister Dr EAM Jaishankar emphasised on the growing partnership between the two sides.

At the first India-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) meet in Saudi capital Riyadh on Monday (Sep 9), India's External Affairs Minister Dr EAM Jaishankar emphasised on the growing partnership between the two sides. Pointing to "3Ps – People, Prosperity and Progress" of ties, Jaishankar said: "People-to-people ties are the bedrock of our relationship. Close to nine million Indians work and live amongst you, acting as a living bridge between us. Their contributions to your economic progress are widely recognised." He thanked the GCC countries, which comprise of six Arab state viz., Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman for taking care of the large Indian diaspora in their countries. India’s economic linkages with the GCC have increased steadily, especially due to growth in oil imports. Pointing that GCC is a "cornerstone of global energy supply", EAM called for "deepening" collaboration as that will help in "stabilising markets, driving innovation and enhancing energy security." India, which is the world's fifth largest economy is a major importer of energy. The meeting adopted a Joint Action Plan 2024-2028 for undertaking various joint activities in diverse areas including health, trade, security, agriculture and food security, transportation, energy, culture, amongst others. Watch | Israel-Hamas War: Indian PM Modi talks to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu × During the meet, the situation in Gaza also came up. Terming the current situation in Gaza as a "concern", the top Indian diplomat said that "we are deeply pained by the continuing death of innocent civilians. Any response must take into account the principles of humanitarian law". He also extended India's support for a ceasefire. On the sidelines of the meeting, the Indian external affairs minister also met the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Qatar Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman, the Foreign minister of Saudi Arabia Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, the Foreign minister of Oman Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood, the Foreign Minister of Kuwait, Abdullah Ali Al Yahya, Foreign Minister of Bahrain Dr Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani. Also read | Gaza war: India's Jaishankar calls for 'ceasefire as soon as possible', urges two-state solution What makes Monday's meet in Riyadh significant is, so far such meetings used to happen in the form of troika -"EAM and the GCC" troika -- that is GCC-SG, foreign minister of the country holding the current GCC presidency, and foreign minister of the country that will hold next GCC presidency, and any other foreign minister(s)/senior officials from the GCC countries.

EAM Jaishankar highlights growing India-GCC partnership at first ministerial meet

As Britain looks to build new ties around the world following its exit from the European Union, the country will today take its first step towards trade negotiations with the six-country gulf cooperation council (GCC), asking British businesses what they want in an agreement to cover.

Britain looks to build new ties around the world following its exit from European Union

<p>As they restore ties through a landmark deal, Qatar and Saudi Arabia opened their borders on Saturday. Saudi Arabia had shut its border with Qatar in June 2017 as part of sanctions. Saudi had said the sanctions were part of response to Qatar backing radical Islamist groups and closeness to Iran. Qatar has always denied the charges.</p>

<p>A Qatari source told AFP that traffic at the Abu Samrah crossing, 120 kilometres (75 miles) south of Doha, resumed around 0700 GMT.</p>

<p>Saudi Arabia, along with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt, all of which also imposed an embargo on travel and trade, agreed to lift the restrictions at a Gulf Cooperation Council summit in the kingdom on Tuesday.</p>

<p>The day before the summit, Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Ahmad Nasser Al-Sabah had announced on state television that a deal had been agreed to "open the airspace and land and sea borders between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the State of Qatar".</p>

<p>Only a trickle of cars arrived at the palm tree-lined, whitewashed border post to make the short crossing to the Saudi side after news broke that the frontier had reopened.</p>

<p>A smaller number made the journey from Saudi Arabia to Qatar, where strict measures to fight the spread of the novel coronavirus have been imposed.</p>

<p>"I'm very happy the border is open again," said Qatari Jaber al-Marri, as he approached a checkpoint in his Land Cruiser SUV, adding that he had relatives in the neighbouring kingdom.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"A lot of Qataris have relatives in Saudi Arabia," he said.</p>

<p>"The coming days will be better," added the man, holding a negative coronavirus test result in his hand.</p>

<p><strong>(With AFP inputs)</strong></p>


As they restore ties through a landmark deal, Qatar and Saudi Arabia opened their borders on Saturday. Saudi Arabia had shut its border with Qatar in June 2017 as part of sanctions.

As they restore ties through a landmark deal, Qatar and Saudi Arabia opened their borders on Saturday. Saudi Arabia had shut its border with Qatar in June 2017 as part of sanctions. Saudi had said the sanctions were part of response to Qatar backing radical Islamist groups and closeness to Iran. Qatar has always denied the charges. A Qatari source told AFP that traffic at the Abu Samrah crossing, 120 kilometres (75 miles) south of Doha, resumed around 0700 GMT. Saudi Arabia, along with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt, all of which also imposed an embargo on travel and trade, agreed to lift the restrictions at a Gulf Cooperation Council summit in the kingdom on Tuesday. The day before the summit, Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Ahmad Nasser Al-Sabah had announced on state television that a deal had been agreed to "open the airspace and land and sea borders between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the State of Qatar". Only a trickle of cars arrived at the palm tree-lined, whitewashed border post to make the short crossing to the Saudi side after news broke that the frontier had reopened. A smaller number made the journey from Saudi Arabia to Qatar, where strict measures to fight the spread of the novel coronavirus have been imposed. "I'm very happy the border is open again," said Qatari Jaber al-Marri, as he approached a checkpoint in his Land Cruiser SUV, adding that he had relatives in the neighbouring kingdom. "A lot of Qataris have relatives in Saudi Arabia," he said. "The coming days will be better," added the man, holding a negative coronavirus test result in his hand. (With AFP inputs)

Saudi Arabia-Qatar border reopens after thaw in relations

<p>Iran has rejected as "unrealistic" a call by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) for the United Nations to extend an international arms embargo on Tehran that ends in October, state TV reported on Monday.</p>

<p>The GCC, made up of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, said on Sunday that Iran`s continued interference in neighbouring countries made an extension necessary.</p>

<p>The arms embargo is currently set to end on October&nbsp;18 as part of Tehran`s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, which the United States quit in 2018.</p>

<p>"The GCC is currently at the apex of its incompetence and its unrealistic policies have rendered it ineffective," Iran`s Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi told a televised news conference.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/irans-ayatollah-khamenei-creates-official-hindi-twitter-account-319286"><strong>Also read:&nbsp;Iran’s Ayatollah Khamenei creates official Hindi Twitter account</strong></a></p>

<p>"The council, swayed by the wrong and destructive policies and behaviour of certain member states, has turned into a mouthpiece for anti-Iran elements inside and outside the region."</p>

<p>U. S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday that the United Nations Security Council will vote this week on a U.S. bid to extend the arms embargo on Iran, despite warnings by some diplomats that the measure lacks support.</p>

<p>If the United States is unsuccessful in extending the embargo, it has threatened to trigger a return of all U.N. sanctions on Iran under a process agreed in the 2015 deal.</p>

<p>In May, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani threatened a "crushing response" if the embargo on Iranian trade of conventional arms was extended.</p>

<p>Iran has breached parts of the nuclear deal in response to the 2018 U.S. withdrawal and Washington’s reimposition of sanctions.</p>


Iran has rejected as "unrealistic" a call by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) for the United Nations to extend an international arms embargo on Tehran that ends in October, state TV reported on Monday.

Iran has rejected as "unrealistic" a call by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) for the United Nations to extend an international arms embargo on Tehran that ends in October, state TV reported on Monday. The GCC, made up of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, said on Sunday that Iran`s continued interference in neighbouring countries made an extension necessary. The arms embargo is currently set to end on October 18 as part of Tehran`s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, which the United States quit in 2018. "The GCC is currently at the apex of its incompetence and its unrealistic policies have rendered it ineffective," Iran`s Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi told a televised news conference. Also read: Iran’s Ayatollah Khamenei creates official Hindi Twitter account "The council, swayed by the wrong and destructive policies and behaviour of certain member states, has turned into a mouthpiece for anti-Iran elements inside and outside the region." U. S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday that the United Nations Security Council will vote this week on a U.S. bid to extend the arms embargo on Iran, despite warnings by some diplomats that the measure lacks support. If the United States is unsuccessful in extending the embargo, it has threatened to trigger a return of all U.N. sanctions on Iran under a process agreed in the 2015 deal. In May, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani threatened a "crushing response" if the embargo on Iranian trade of conventional arms was extended. Iran has breached parts of the nuclear deal in response to the 2018 U.S. withdrawal and Washington’s reimposition of sanctions.

Iran says GCC call for Tehran arms embargo extension is 'unrealistic'

<p>The Gulf Cooperation Council's (GCC) annual summit was set to open in Riyadh on Sunday, with regional unity imperilled by a bitter row with Qatar and the host, Saudi Arabia, facing a diplomatic crisis over the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.</p>

<p>The one-day annual gathering of leaders from the six member states is expected to focus on security issues, including the Yemen war and Iran's regional activities, and may touch on oil politics and a protracted boycott of Qatar by some of its neighbours.</p>

<p>Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and non-GCC member Egypt cut diplomatic and economic ties with Qatar in June 2017 over allegations of supporting terrorism.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Qatar, which last week abruptly announced it was withdrawing from oil exporters group OPEC, denies the charges and says the boycott aims to curtail its sovereignty.</p>

<p>The Saudi king has invited Qatar`s emir to the summit, but Doha has not said what level of representation it would send. The emir attended last year`s gathering in Kuwait, while Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain sent more junior officials.</p>

<p>The GCC -- set up in 1980 as a bulwark against larger neighbours Iran and Iraq -- groups Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait, whose ties with Riyadh have also been strained over control of shared oilfields.</p>

<p>Saudi Arabia has resisted renewed US pressure to end the Qatar row after the October 2 murder of Khashoggi at the kingdom's Istanbul consulate drew global condemnation and exposed Riyadh`s domestic crackdown on dissent and activities in the region.</p>

<p>Rights group Amnesty International called on GCC states to release peaceful dissidents in the region, where governments have shown little tolerance for open dissent or criticism of rulers.</p>

<p>"Gulf leaders can no longer operate on the assumption that they have a carte blanche to treat their citizens like criminals whenever they express dissent without fear of any international repercussions," said Heba Morayef, Middle East Director of Campaigns.</p>

<p>The United States has increased pressure on Riyadh following Kashoggi's killing to end the Yemen war and mend fences with Qatar as Washington wants Gulf states to present a united front against Iran.</p>

<p>Qatar's exit from OPEC after 57 year to focus on gas appeared to be a swipe at the bloc's de facto leader Saudi Arabia. The move has deepened the sense among diplomats and analysts that any prospect for a near-term resolution to the dispute was unlikely at the Riyadh summit.</p>

<p>While the boycotting states have said the row is not a priority for them and that the GCC remained valid, Doha has said the dispute harmed regional security by weakening the bloc.</p>

<p>Relations have also soured between Saudi Arabia and Kuwait over oil production from two jointly-run oilfields in the so-called Neutral Zone after talks in September failed to move the two countries closer to a deal.</p>


The Gulf Cooperation Council's (GCC) annual summit was set to open in Riyadh on Sunday, with regional unity imperilled by a bitter row with Qatar and the host, Saudi Arabia, facing a diplomatic crisis over the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

The Gulf Cooperation Council's (GCC) annual summit was set to open in Riyadh on Sunday, with regional unity imperilled by a bitter row with Qatar and the host, Saudi Arabia, facing a diplomatic crisis over the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The one-day annual gathering of leaders from the six member states is expected to focus on security issues, including the Yemen war and Iran's regional activities, and may touch on oil politics and a protracted boycott of Qatar by some of its neighbours. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and non-GCC member Egypt cut diplomatic and economic ties with Qatar in June 2017 over allegations of supporting terrorism. Qatar, which last week abruptly announced it was withdrawing from oil exporters group OPEC, denies the charges and says the boycott aims to curtail its sovereignty. The Saudi king has invited Qatar`s emir to the summit, but Doha has not said what level of representation it would send. The emir attended last year`s gathering in Kuwait, while Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain sent more junior officials. The GCC -- set up in 1980 as a bulwark against larger neighbours Iran and Iraq -- groups Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait, whose ties with Riyadh have also been strained over control of shared oilfields. Saudi Arabia has resisted renewed US pressure to end the Qatar row after the October 2 murder of Khashoggi at the kingdom's Istanbul consulate drew global condemnation and exposed Riyadh`s domestic crackdown on dissent and activities in the region. Rights group Amnesty International called on GCC states to release peaceful dissidents in the region, where governments have shown little tolerance for open dissent or criticism of rulers. "Gulf leaders can no longer operate on the assumption that they have a carte blanche to treat their citizens like criminals whenever they express dissent without fear of any international repercussions," said Heba Morayef, Middle East Director of Campaigns. The United States has increased pressure on Riyadh following Kashoggi's killing to end the Yemen war and mend fences with Qatar as Washington wants Gulf states to present a united front against Iran. Qatar's exit from OPEC after 57 year to focus on gas appeared to be a swipe at the bloc's de facto leader Saudi Arabia. The move has deepened the sense among diplomats and analysts that any prospect for a near-term resolution to the dispute was unlikely at the Riyadh summit. While the boycotting states have said the row is not a priority for them and that the GCC remained valid, Doha has said the dispute harmed regional security by weakening the bloc. Relations have also soured between Saudi Arabia and Kuwait over oil production from two jointly-run oilfields in the so-called Neutral Zone after talks in September failed to move the two countries closer to a deal.

Saudi Arabia hosts GCC summit amid Qatar tensions, Khashoggi crisis

<p><strong>By:&nbsp;Tridivesh Singh Maini &amp; Sandeep Sachdeva*</strong></p>

<p>New Delhi,&nbsp;while consistently expanding strategic and economic ties with the Gulf Cooperation Countries (GCC) and Israel, has also sought to strengthen ties with Tehran, which has tense relations with both. The Nuclear Deal of 2015, signed between Iran and<strong> </strong>(P5+1) countries opened new vistas for India in Iran, which is strategically located and is India&rsquo;s potential gateway to Afghanistan and Central Asia.&nbsp;</p>

<p>During his visit to Iran in 2016, PM Modi signed an agreement, not just committing financial assistance&nbsp;to the tune of 500 Million USD for phase 1 of the development of the Chabahar Project, but also a three nation agreement with Iran and Afghanistan&nbsp;for establishing a land, transit and trade corridor. India will build a <a href="http://russiancouncil.ru/en/blogs/tridivesh-en/33618/">500-km rail line</a> from Chabahar port from the southern coast of Iran to Zahedan, close to the Afghan border, at a cost of $1.6 billion as part of the transit corridor to Afghanistan. &quot;It will open new routes for India, Iran, and Afghanistan to connect among themselves,&quot; said PM Modi with regard to the corridor.</p>

<p>India&rsquo;s main aim was to get access to Afghanistan and Central Asia. Pakistan has continuously opposed India&rsquo;s entry into the <a href="http://russiancouncil.ru/en/blogs/tridivesh-en/33618/">APTTA</a>&nbsp;(Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement), even though Afghanistan has been in favour of India joining the agreement. APTTA is a transit trade agreement as it is quite evident from its name. Currently, Afghan goods can come into India, but trucks stop at Wagah (Pakistani side of the border). India, however, has been deprived of land access to Afghanistan and Central Asia.</p>

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<h5>Given India&rsquo;s increasingly close ties with the US, and importance of Iran in the context of connectivity with Afghanistan and Central Asia, striking a balance may be a challenge given Trump&rsquo;s unpredictability.</h5>
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<p>There have been some hitches with regard to the Chabahar project kicking off by 2018. The <a href="https://www.google.co.in/amp/www.firstpost.com/india/chabahar-port-why-future-of-india-iran-project-hinges-on-outcome-of-narendra-modi-donald-trump-meet-3722647.html/amp">companies which are to develop customised equipment jetties and container terminals</a> were not willing to take part in the bidding process. The banks were not ready to facilitate the financial transactions involving Iran due to the uncertain policies of Trump administration towards&nbsp;Iran. Apart from this, there was a delay in <a href="http://m.economictimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/iran-india-trade-charges-on-delay-of-chabahar-port/articleshow/56990454.cms">loan disbursement of $ 150 million</a>&nbsp;with India and Iran blaming each other for the delay. Transport minister, Nitin Gadkari who attended Iranian President Rouhani&rsquo;s swearing in on August 5, 2017, categorically stated:</p>

<p>&quot;India and Iran have been historically sharing special ties. We are keen on developing Chabahar Port and are hopeful of starting operations in 12 to 18 months.&quot;</p>

<p><strong>US-Iran ties</strong></p>

<p>India, however, needs to carefully observe Trump&rsquo;s warnings to Iran on the nuclear deal. Iran has categorically stated, that it will quit the Nuclear Deal if more sanctions are imposed. Rouhani&#39;s exact words were:&nbsp;&quot;Iran could quit the nuclear deal within hours if the US imposes more sanctions.&quot;</p>

<p>Even though Iran has followed the conditions of the deal, Trump has threatened about imposing sanctions. The Secretary of State Rex Tillerson,&nbsp;however, has made it clear on umpteen occasions, that the US will not scrap the deal. Interestingly, Tillerson has also stated, that he and the US President have differences over the deal. Whereas President Trump is in favour of calling off the deal and imposing new sanctions, secretary of state <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-tillerson-iran-idUSKBN1AH5E7">Tillerson </a>subscribes to the view, that America should not strike the deal rather engage with Iran to bring stability in the neighbourhood, especially in Iraq and Syria by holding it accountable.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Given India&rsquo;s increasingly close ties with the US, and importance of Iran in the context of connectivity with Afghanistan and Central Asia, striking a balance may be a challenge given Trump&rsquo;s unpredictability.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
<strong>Iran-Pakistan ties&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>New Delhi should also observe carefully Iran&rsquo;s support for Pakistan, particularly after Trump&rsquo;s speech on August 21 where he warned Pakistan to take more concrete action against terror groups operating on Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Iran came to the defence of Pakistan, with foreign ministry spokesman, Bahram Ghasemi saying:</p>

<p>&quot;What presently the US is highlighting to condemn other countries with is the result of years of wrong and inappropriate policies of Americans in the countries of the region, especially Afghanistan.&rdquo;</p>

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<h5>Iran already has strong economic ties with China, moving closer to Pakistan would not be good news for India.</h5>
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<p>Iran already has strong economic ties with China, and it moving closer to Pakistan would not be good news for India. New Delhi has been trying to jointly work with both Afghanistan and Iran much to the chagrin of the Pakistan army.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Significantly, in May 2017, Iran had taken a tough stance against certain terror groups operating from Pakistan, warning that it would hit the bases of Sunni militant groups operating in Pakistan. In April 2017, Ten Iranian border guards had been killed by militants and Iran blamed Sunni groups operating from Pakistan. <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-pakistan-security-idUSKBN1840SY">Major General Mohammad Baqeri</a>, head of the Iranian armed forces had said, &ldquo;If the terrorist attacks continue, we will hit their safe havens and cells, wherever they are.&rdquo;&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;<br />
<strong>Middle East</strong></p>

<p>New Delhi should also be watching the gradual softening of Iran towards Saudi Arabia and Turkey. On the sidelines of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) meeting in Istanbul earlier this month, the <a href="#vgi=11831571547160704589&amp;amp=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.al-monitor.com%252Fpulse%252Fen%252Foriginals%252F2017%252F08%252Firan-zarif-jubeir-saudi-fm-handshake-istanbul-shamkhani-deal.amp.html&amp;ampidx=0&amp;ampct=1504066232985">foreign ministers of Iran and Saudi Arabia</a> met and exchanged greetings. Earlier this month Iranian chief of staff of the armed forces, <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-turkey-iran-military-idUSKCN1AW1PT">Major-General Mohammad Baqeri</a> paid a visit to Turkey to explore possible synergies in counter-terrorism and the Syrian conflict. This is a clear indication of a significant improvement in bilateral ties. It has also been reported, that their high-level officials are likely to meet again.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While New Delhi has strong ties with both, and this has been a challenge in the past, the tensions were also to the benefit of India. Due to tensions between Iran and GCC countries, especially Saudi Arabia, New Delhi could also pressurise both sides to urge Pakistan to take action against terror groups. Apart from strengthening of India-US ties, Saudi Arabia has been apprehensive about India getting too close to Iran. This has resulted in Riyadh not just adopting a more nuanced stand on terrorism emanating from Pakistan and extraditing terrorists, but also strengthening security cooperation with India.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While currently, India is bogged down with numerous domestic challenges, and other foreign policy priorities, especially with China,&nbsp;a close watch should be kept on Iran&rsquo;s next moves not just in the context of its deal with the US, but also on&nbsp;its ties with Pakistan and GCC countries.&nbsp;</p>

<p>*Sandeep Sachdeva is an Independent Policy Analyst associated with The Jindal School of International Affairs, Sonipat.</p>


Iran already has strong economic ties with China, and it moving closer to Pakistan would not be good news for India.

By: Tridivesh Singh Maini & Sandeep Sachdeva* New Delhi, while consistently expanding strategic and economic ties with the Gulf Cooperation Countries (GCC) and Israel, has also sought to strengthen ties with Tehran, which has tense relations with both. The Nuclear Deal of 2015, signed between Iran and (P5+1) countries opened new vistas for India in Iran, which is strategically located and is India’s potential gateway to Afghanistan and Central Asia. During his visit to Iran in 2016, PM Modi signed an agreement, not just committing financial assistance to the tune of 500 Million USD for phase 1 of the development of the Chabahar Project, but also a three nation agreement with Iran and Afghanistan for establishing a land, transit and trade corridor. India will build a 500-km rail line from Chabahar port from the southern coast of Iran to Zahedan, close to the Afghan border, at a cost of $1.6 billion as part of the transit corridor to Afghanistan. "It will open new routes for India, Iran, and Afghanistan to connect among themselves," said PM Modi with regard to the corridor. India’s main aim was to get access to Afghanistan and Central Asia. Pakistan has continuously opposed India’s entry into the APTTA (Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement), even though Afghanistan has been in favour of India joining the agreement. APTTA is a transit trade agreement as it is quite evident from its name. Currently, Afghan goods can come into India, but trucks stop at Wagah (Pakistani side of the border). India, however, has been deprived of land access to Afghanistan and Central Asia. Given India’s increasingly close ties with the US, and importance of Iran in the context of connectivity with Afghanistan and Central Asia, striking a balance may be a challenge given Trump’s unpredictability. × There have been some hitches with regard to the Chabahar project kicking off by 2018. The companies which are to develop customised equipment jetties and container terminals were not willing to take part in the bidding process. The banks were not ready to facilitate the financial transactions involving Iran due to the uncertain policies of Trump administration towards Iran. Apart from this, there was a delay in loan disbursement of $ 150 million with India and Iran blaming each other for the delay. Transport minister, Nitin Gadkari who attended Iranian President Rouhani’s swearing in on August 5, 2017, categorically stated: "India and Iran have been historically sharing special ties. We are keen on developing Chabahar Port and are hopeful of starting operations in 12 to 18 months." US-Iran ties India, however, needs to carefully observe Trump’s warnings to Iran on the nuclear deal. Iran has categorically stated, that it will quit the Nuclear Deal if more sanctions are imposed. Rouhani's exact words were: "Iran could quit the nuclear deal within hours if the US imposes more sanctions." Even though Iran has followed the conditions of the deal, Trump has threatened about imposing sanctions. The Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, however, has made it clear on umpteen occasions, that the US will not scrap the deal. Interestingly, Tillerson has also stated, that he and the US President have differences over the deal. Whereas President Trump is in favour of calling off the deal and imposing new sanctions, secretary of state Tillerson subscribes to the view, that America should not strike the deal rather engage with Iran to bring stability in the neighbourhood, especially in Iraq and Syria by holding it accountable. Given India’s increasingly close ties with the US, and importance of Iran in the context of connectivity with Afghanistan and Central Asia, striking a balance may be a challenge given Trump’s unpredictability. Iran-Pakistan ties New Delhi should also observe carefully Iran’s support for Pakistan, particularly after Trump’s speech on August 21 where he warned Pakistan to take more concrete action against terror groups operating on Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Iran came to the defence of Pakistan, with foreign ministry spokesman, Bahram Ghasemi saying: "What presently the US is highlighting to condemn other countries with is the result of years of wrong and inappropriate policies of Americans in the countries of the region, especially Afghanistan.” Iran already has strong economic ties with China, moving closer to Pakistan would not be good news for India. × Iran already has strong economic ties with China, and it moving closer to Pakistan would not be good news for India. New Delhi has been trying to jointly work with both Afghanistan and Iran much to the chagrin of the Pakistan army. Significantly, in May 2017, Iran had taken a tough stance against certain terror groups operating from Pakistan, warning that it would hit the bases of Sunni militant groups operating in Pakistan. In April 2017, Ten Iranian border guards had been killed by militants and Iran blamed Sunni groups operating from Pakistan. Major General Mohammad Baqeri, head of the Iranian armed forces had said, “If the terrorist attacks continue, we will hit their safe havens and cells, wherever they are.” Middle East New Delhi should also be watching the gradual softening of Iran towards Saudi Arabia and Turkey. On the sidelines of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) meeting in Istanbul earlier this month, the foreign ministers of Iran and Saudi Arabia met and exchanged greetings. Earlier this month Iranian chief of staff of the armed forces, Major-General Mohammad Baqeri paid a visit to Turkey to explore possible synergies in counter-terrorism and the Syrian conflict. This is a clear indication of a significant improvement in bilateral ties. It has also been reported, that their high-level officials are likely to meet again. While New Delhi has strong ties with both, and this has been a challenge in the past, the tensions were also to the benefit of India. Due to tensions between Iran and GCC countries, especially Saudi Arabia, New Delhi could also pressurise both sides to urge Pakistan to take action against terror groups. Apart from strengthening of India-US ties, Saudi Arabia has been apprehensive about India getting too close to Iran. This has resulted in Riyadh not just adopting a more nuanced stand on terrorism emanating from Pakistan and extraditing terrorists, but also strengthening security cooperation with India. While currently, India is bogged down with numerous domestic challenges, and other foreign policy priorities, especially with China, a close watch should be kept on Iran’s next moves not just in the context of its deal with the US, but also on its ties with Pakistan and GCC countries. *Sandeep Sachdeva is an Independent Policy Analyst associated with The Jindal School of International Affairs, Sonipat.

India should be careful about Iran's softening of stance towards Pakistan and China

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