A little-noticed deal this month between India and Iran to develop an obscure port in the Gulf of Oman is offering a glimpse into just how dramatically last summer’s Iranian nuclear accord stands to upend South Asia’s geopolitical dynamics — as New Delhi pushes to expand its influence in nearby Afghanistan, outflank rival Pakistan and challenge Chinese dominance in the region.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani were all smiles at an unusual gathering last week in Tehran, where Mr. Modi pledged billions to develop Iran’s southeastern Chabahar port and help establish a free trade zone stretching toward the Iran-Afghan border during the coming years.
News of the deal prompted a wary reaction from some in Washington, amid concern that sanctions relief under the Obama administration-backed nuclear accord with Iran last year has paved the way for a key U.S. ally to align itself with Washington’s main adversary in the region.
But most South Asia experts say New Delhi remains firmly committed to its growing security cooperation with the U.S., and that its dealings with Iran are being motivated mainly by a desire to open a vast new trade link between a key Indian industry hub and the landlocked nations of Central Asia — without including rival Pakistan.
Iran’s Chabahar port, located on the northern side of the Gulf of Oman, sits less than 600 miles from western India’s export powerhouse of Gujarat state, where Mr. Modi served as chief minister for more than a decade prior to his election as prime minister in 2014.
It’s a long-stalled deal that has economic, diplomatic and security implications for states across the region and beyond.
Sources: http://www.washingtontimes.com