Volume : 12, Issue : 6, JUN 2026

BALANCING ACT: INDIA’S STRATEGIC DILEMMA BETWEEN IRAN AND THE WEST

SOMDAT KULHARI

Abstract

India and Iran share a historical relationship with each other since time immemorial, and yet this relationship has not realised its potential to the desired level. Although many factors have contributed to this failure, the largest among them is the ongoing hostility between Iran and the USA. During the Cold War, when the world was divided into two power blocs, both Iran and the USA came together only to part ways following the Islamic revolution and the 1979 hostage crisis. India’s foreign policy in the 21st century reflects a complex balancing act between its historical and longstanding ties with Iran and its deepening strategic partnership with the United States and the broader Western bloc. Iran is vital to its energy security and regional connectivity ambitions, and alignment with the West, particularly the USA, is driven by shared concerns over China’s rise, defence cooperation and economic and technological interdependence. This paper examines the nature and implications of India’s strategic dilemma where the leadership navigates competing geopolitical, economic and security interests. India has to maintain ties with both Iran and the USA.

The study argues that India’s approach is best understood through the lens of strategic autonomy and multi-alignment, allowing it to engage with both sides without formal alliances. However, this balancing strategy is increasingly challenged by U.S.-led sanctions on Iran, Iran’s closer ties with China, and the evolving security dynamics of West Asia. Through an analysis of historical developments, contemporary policy decisions, and emerging trends, the paper highlights the constraints and opportunities shaping India’s diplomatic choices. It concludes that while India has so far managed to maintain equilibrium, sustaining this balance will require greater diplomatic agility and policy innovation in an increasingly polarised and multipolar global order.

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IESRJ

International Educational Scientific Research Journal

E-ISSN: 2455-295X

International Indexed Journal | Multi-Disciplinary Refereed Research Journal

ISSN: 2455-295X

Peer-Reviewed Journal - Equivalent to UGC Approved Journal

Peer-Reviewed Journal

 

Article No : 2

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