Geopolitics as a Foreign Policy Determinant between India and Iran
##semicolon##
https://doi.org/10.66871/trf-j.v1i2.037##semicolon##
Geopolitics##common.commaListSeparator## India##common.commaListSeparator## Iran##common.commaListSeparator## China##common.commaListSeparator## foreign policyसार
Geopolitics has been one of the profound elements in determining relations among countries. India and Iran share close geographical proximity and centuries-old cultural linkages. Their peculiar geographic locations give them privileges and vast areas of cooperation. The changing nature of international politics, including the China factor, is pushing India to reinvent its ties with the West Asian region. The Iranian state is facing challenges at both the domestic and international levels. India needs Iran to reshape its ties with the region, establish feasible and shorter routes to Central Asian Republics and beyond and also to fulfil its energy needs. Iran is keen to find a reliable partner distinct from Western identity. In a way, they both need each other to achieve their respective desired foreign policy objectives. Considering Iran’s geopolitical location and the foreign policy preferences of both countries, this research provides a detailed analysis of different factors that affect their bilateral relations and also highlights the consequences and prospects in their relations.
##submission.citations##
AFP. (2015). Despite nuke deal, US remains Iran’s ‘Great Satan’. The Times of Israel. Accessed on December 10, 2025. https://www.timesofisrael.com/despite-nuke-deal-us-remains-irans-great-satan/
Afzal, U., & Iqbal, J. (2024). India’s Look West Policy: Geopolitical Imperatives and Economic Interest. Journal of West Asian Studies, 36(2). Accessed on January 23, 2026. https://api.amu.ac.in/storage//file/74/journals/1740341728.pdf
Al Hashem, M. A. (2025). Tehran, New Delhi emphasize expanding parliamentary coop. MEHR NEWS AGENCY. Accessed on December 28, 2025. https://en.mehrnews.com/news/232721/Tehran-New-Delhi-emphasize-expanding-parliamentary-coop
Al Jazeera, & Younes, A. (2018). Israel’s Netanyahu: Iran pursued ‘secret nuclear programme’. Accessed on January 25, 2026. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/4/30/israels-netanyahu-iran-pursued-secret-nuclear-programme
Ashwarya, S. (2017). India-Iran relations: Progress, problems and prospects. Routledge.
Baidya, S. (2018). India’s Policy towards Iran: Reflection of Intentions, Ambiguities and Complexities. International Studies, 54(1-4), 144-161. Accessed on November 21, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1177/0020881718790432 (Original work published 2017)
Brzezinski, Z. (1997). The grand chessboard: American primacy and its geostrategic imperatives. Basic books.
Cole, D., & Atwood, K. (2025). Trump administration announces all countries importing Iranian oil will be subject to US sanctions. CNN. Accessed on December 30, 2025. https://edition.cnn.com/2019/04/22/politics/trump-administration-iranian-oil-sanction-waiver
Department of Commerce. (2025) Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India Accessed on December 28, 2025. https://tradestat.commerce.gov.in/eidb/country_wise_ttrade
Dietl, G. (2008). Transnational gas pipelines: Global context, Indian experience. In A. Alam (Ed.), India and west asia in the era of globalisation. (pp. 33-42). New Century Publications.
Dutta, A. (2019). Analysis of European responses to Iran nuclear deal crisis. Indian Council of World Affairs. Accessed on December 28, 2025. https://www.icwa.in/show_content.php?lang=1&level=3&ls_id=4787&lid=2830
Embassy of India, Tehran. (n.d.). India Iran Historical Links. Government of India. Accessed on 03 October 2025. https://www.indianembassytehran.gov.in/eoithr_pages/MTc
Gera, I. (2025). India's trade with Iran has shrunk 87% since 2019 US sanctions; exports shift toward consumer goods. Moneycontrol. Accessed on January 1, 2026. https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/economy/india-s-trade-with-iran-has-shrunk-87-since-2019-us-sanctions-exports-shift-toward-consumer-goods-13117871.html
Habibiazad, G. (2025). Explainer: Iran-US nuclear talks stalled amid mistrust, enrichment disputes. BBC Monitoring. Accessed on December 13, 2025. https://monitoring.bbc.co.uk/product/b0004vrz
Haidar, S. (2022). India's catch-22 dilemma on relations with Iran. The Hindu. Accessed on December 31, 2025. https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/indias-catch-22-dilemma-on-relations-with-iran/article65949504.ece
Hiro, D. (1985). Iran Under the Ayatollahs. Routledge & K. Paul.
Hyderabad Desk. (2021). Women entrepreneurs summit, Iranian food festival in Hyderabad on Oct 25. HyderabadTalks. Accessed on January 2, 2026. http://hyderabadtalks.com/city/hyderabad/women-entrepreneurs-summit-iranian-food-festival-in-hyderabad-on-oct-25/
Indian Defence News. (2025). India-Iran holds bilateral political consultations. IDN - Indian Defence News. Accessed on December 30, 2025. https://indiandefensenews.in/2025/09/india-iran-holds-bilateral-political.html
Kaye, D. D., & Martini, J. (2015). Peace in the Middle East: America's new post-Iran deal challenge. RAND Corporation. Accessed on January 1, 2026. https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2015/07/peace-in-the-middle-east-americas-new-post-iran-deal.html
Layne, C. (1993). The Unipolar Illusion: Why New Great Powers Will Rise. International Security, 17(4), 5–51. Accessed on January 15, 2026. https://doi.org/10.2307/2539020
Lobell, S. E. (2017). Structural realism/offensive and defensive realism. Oxford Research Encyclopedia of International Relations. Accessed on January 15, 2026. https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780190846626.013.304 (published in print 2010)
MacAskill, E., & McGreal, C. (2005). Israel should be wiped off map, says Iran's president. The Guardian. Accessed on December 12, 2025. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/oct/27/israel.iran
Malhotra, D. (2025). It takes two to tango: How mutual interests guide India-Iran ties. The Polity. Accessed on January 20, 2026. https://thepolity.co.in/article/217
Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India. (1978). Annual report 1977-78. Accessed on December 31, 2025. https://mealib.nic.in/?2506?000#4
Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India. (1980). Annual report 1979-80. Accessed on December 23, 2025. https://mealib.nic.in/?2508?000#4
Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India. (2025). India-Iran bilateral brief. Accessed on December 13, 2025. https://mea.gov.in/Portal/ForeignRelation/India_Iran_Bilateral_Brief_0125.pdf
Mohammadi, A. S., & Hashemi, S. (2022). Iran and the Emerging New World Order: A Strategic Realignment Toward the SCO and BRICS. Iranian Review of Foreign Affairs, 13(1). Accessed on January 2, 2026. https://irfajournal.csr.ir/article_187218_5f270b095cc89c8ae14060c5aca509d3.pdf
Mohan, C. R. (2024). Arab states — and peace are more important than Iran or Israel. The Indian Express. Accessed on December 28, 2025. https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/c-raja-mohan-writes-arab-states-and-peace-are-more-important-than-iran-or-israel/
Mudiam, P. R. (1994). India and the Middle East. British Academic Press.
Naaz, F. (2001). Indo-Iranian relations 1947–2000. Strategic Analysis: A Monthly Journal of the IDSA, 24(10). Columbia University. Accessed on November 28, 2025. https://ciaotest.cc.columbia.edu/olj/sa/sa_jan01naf01.html
Pasha, A. K. (2010). New Directions in India’s Role in West Asia and the Gulf. International Studies, 47(2-4), 333-346. Accessed on December 20, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1177/002088171104700416
The Hindu. (2022). RBI sets up system to settle trade in rupees. Accessed on December 22, 2025. https://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/rbi-sets-up-system-to-settle-trade-in-rupees/article65627987.ece
The Hindu. (2025). Iran says open to U.S. nuclear talks, rejects missile curbs. Accessed on December 12, 2025. https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/iran-says-open-to-us-nuclear-talks-rejects-missile-curbs/article70005377.ece
The White House Archives. (2002). President delivers State of the Union address. Accessed on December 18, 2025. https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2002/01/20020129-11.html
Security Council 5500th Meeting (AM). (2006). Security Council demands Iran suspend uranium enrichment by 31 August, or face possible economic, diplomatic sanctions. United Nations. Accessed on March 09, 2026. https://press.un.org/en/2006/sc8792.doc.htm
Therme, C. (2019). The rise of tensions between Iran and Europe: the Trump factor. International Institute for Strategic Studies. Accessed on March 09, 2026. https://www.iiss.org/online-analysis/online-analysis//2019/03/iran-and-europe-rise-of-tensions
Verma, N. (2018). India says it only follows U.N. sanctions, not U.S. sanctions on Iran. Reuters. Accessed on December 26, 2025. https://www.reuters.com/article/world/india-says-it-only-follows-un-sanctions-not-us-sanctions-on-iran-idUSKCN1IT1PG/
Waltz, K. N. (1979). Theory of international politics. Addison-Wesley.
Wintour, P. (2023). Iran and Saudi Arabia agree to restore ties after talks in China. The Guardian. Accessed on December 27, 2025. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/mar/10/iran-saudi-arabia-agree-restore-ties-china-talks
Ziabari, K. (2023). Iran: A resource-rich country reeling from rampant poverty. Arab Center Washington DC. Accessed on January 6, 2026. https://arabcenterdc.org/resource/iran-a-resource-rich-country-reeling-from-rampant-poverty/