The 'US Factor' in India-Iran Relations.

The United States emerged as a 'factor' in India-Iran relations with Bush Administration's efforts to change the global nuclear order to accommodate India's interests. In turn, India supported the US-led drive to impose sanctions on Tehran. This led to chilling of India's once warm relations with Iran. Since then, however, India has begun to chart a course more independent of Washington by showing renewed interest in Iran's energy sector and by opposing unilateral sanctions on that country. Two factors have contributed to this shift. First, the Obama administration has ignored India in a bid to woo Pakistan, seen as crucial to brokering a political settlement in Afghanistan. Secondly, the US has also failed to persuade Pakistan to take Indian concerns about terrorism emanating from its territory, more seriously. Iran and Iran's interests converge on the issue of stability in Afghanistan, which involves facilitating trade and preventing pro-Pakistan Taliban factions from becoming a part of Kabul's power structure. This also entails reining in transnational terrorism emanating from Pakistani soil, which has long affected both the countries. This paper argues that areas of convergence between Indian and Iranian interests far outweigh differences and therefore the two countries will not abandon their mutually beneficial relationship. Issues - such as energy, terrorism, and Afghanistan - crucial to both will continuously draw them together in the foreseeable future. However, the dilemma posed by continuous pulls and pressures of ties with United States will certainly overstretch India's capacity to balance its relations with Washington and Tehran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]