When Iran foreign minister Zarif comes visiting, issues that India will highlight

Chabahar port project will be one of India's biggest concerns

Javad-Zarif-Jaishankar-India-Iran-AP Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, left, welcomes his Indian counterpart, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, for their meeting in Tehran, Iran | AP

Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif will arrive in India on Tuesday on a three-day visit to India in midst of spiralling tension between Iran and the US. On Wednesday, Zarif will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, besides delivering a lecture at the Raisina Dialogue, the External Affairs Ministry's flagship annual conference. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will hold talks with Zarif on Thursday morning over breakfast, according to the ministry.

In the meeting both ministers are expected to deliberate on fast escalating tensions between Iran and the US over killing of a top Iranian military commander by the US in a drone attack. The visit by the Iranian foreign minister assumes significance as it is taking place when the global focus has been on Iran and the US over the confrontation following killing of Maj Gen Soleimani. Soleimani, the head of Iran's elite al-Quds force was killed when a US drone fired missiles on his convoy in Iraq on January 3, leading to a drawn out stand-off and ending in Tehran accidentally downing a passenger jet, killing over 170, in its airspace. Last week, Iran launched over a dozen ballistic missiles targeting at least two bases where US military and coalition forces' are stationed in Iraq.

India wants the situation to de-escalate as soon as possible, and the country has been in touch with key players including Iran, United Arab Emirates, Oman and Qatar as it has important interests in the region. 

Oil

India, which imports around 80 per cent of its oil requirements, is particularly affected by global oil prices. With prices hovering above $70 a barrel, and the Indian economy already undergoing a slowdown, the country stands but to lose from the geopolitical tensions with Iran. While India has chosen to bring down oil imports from Iran to almost zero under American pressure, any instability in the Gulf adversely impacts India.

India's oil supplies are diversified, but there is still a heavy dependence on petroleum imports. By 2025, it is said to become the second largest pressure on global energy after China. There is a dire need to develop self-sufficiency and reduce oil consumption so as to gain long-term stability in the energy sector. India already has plans to increase its nuclear capacity and expand its renewable sources for energy. At a time when fuel prices are steadily increasing, with the threat of fast receding oil reserves looming large, further development of renewable energy resources could be a crucial step to avert any energy crisis that could essentially cripple the economy.

Chabahar

Any hostility in the region puts the fate of the Chabahar port in jeopardy. The work on the port, which is India’s gateway to Afghanistan and Central Asia, has been progressing at a glacial pace, despite the active involvement of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. At the recent meeting of the India-Iran joint economic commission held in Tehran, the two sides promised to expand connectivity. But, India has been unable to generate much enthusiasm from private companies to invest in Iran, especially after the stringent sanctions imposed by the US. And, without private investment, the Chabahar project is unlikely to succeed.

The Chabahar port—jointly being developed by India, Iran and Afghanistan—is considered a gateway to golden opportunities for trade with central Asian nations by the three countries. It is located on the Indian Ocean in the Sistan and Baluchestan province of Iran. 

The port on the energy-rich nation's southern coast is easily accessible from India's western coast and is increasingly seen as a counter to Pakistan's Gwadar Port, which is being developed with Chinese investment and is located at distance of around 80-km from Chabahar.

India's response to Iran crisis

In an official statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), India deliberately did not name Soleimani, referring to him as a “senior Iranian leader'', and advocated “restraint''.  “The increase in tension has alarmed the world,'' the statement read. “Peace, stability and security in this region is of utmost importance to India. It is vital that the situation does not escalate further,'' it stated.  

Amid tensions, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on January 3 held a conversation with Zarif and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, where he highlighted India's stakes and concerns.

-Inputs from PTI

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