India and Iran : An Assessment of Contemporary Relations

Indian-Iranian relations have been the subject of intense debates and discussions in recent years, particularly in the post-9/11 period. The growing Indian-US relationship is considered to have cast a shadow on Indian-Iranian ties. Given the anti-Iranian thrust in US foreign policy, particularly on the nuclear issue, India's foreign policy faces a daunting task of maintaining a balanced outlook towards Iran. It is against this background that this book discusses a whole range of issues in Indian-Iranian relations, including energy security, military and defense co-operation, Iran's nuclear program, terrorism, commerce, and the political/economic/cultural ties. These dimensions are examined with reference to the influencing factor of the US, China, Pakistan, Israel, Afghanistan, and Central Asia. The book's 19 research articles offer deep insights into the complexities of Indian-Iranian relations in contemporary times, in terms of their continuity, limitations, strengths, and weaknesses.