NEW DELHI - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is arriving in New Delhi today to discuss early completion of Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) gas pipeline, and sanction of two mega energy deals. The move may perhaps mark the beginning of an end of the Indo-US nuclear agreement.
The nuclear deal, whose fate isn’t certain for political and procedural reasons, could end prematurely while India is going ahead with new energy deals with Iran much to the dismay of the US.
Even as Washington has urged New Delhi to conduct itself when talking to President Ahmadinejad, the two energy deals with Teheran that is worth multi billion dollars could decide the fate of the N-deal.
India is interested in a strategic partnership with Iran that may help New Delhi tap new sources of energy to fuel its growing economy.
Top government officials who would attend the ceremonious welcome of President Ahmadinejad at Rashtrapati Bhavan, told media that India by virtually spurning the US advice on dealing with Iran, would give a well-defined political meaning to the Iranian President’s first visit to India.
Growing Ties
President Ahmadinejad is arriving with a team of business experts who would meet their counterparts here to talk on trade and commerce necessities.
Foreign policy observers point out that India-Iran relationship may have been hit by hiccups in recent years, and questions raised over a centuries-old friendship, but that has not stopped both countries from dealing in mutually beneficial issues. Teheran sent one of its biggest business delegations to Mumbai just a few weeks ago to woo Indian industry.
A 40-member team, including three deputy ministers, heads of Iranian business associations and industrialists, were in India in March to explore joint venture opportunities, and attract investments.
Officials at Iranian Embassy told Khaleej Times that Iran is happy to showcase its achievements in India.
Here, Ministry of External Affairs said it was not just the Iranians who are keen to forge stronger business links with India. “The desire is quite mutual,” say officials. India is looking towards increasing its participating interests in various oil and gas projects in Iran. Officials said India would push for a public-private partnership agreement with Iran, and would seek Iranian investment in the downstream sectors in India.
Indo-Iran business has been quietly prospering despite the disapproval of New Delhi’s new friends in Washington. Though soaring oil prices have been the only saving grace for the country, which holds the world's second-largest reserves of oil and natural gas, allowing it to stomach the impact of sanctions, Teheran is taking no chances to step up ties with India. “This is where Iran looks to India, and feels new business initiatives could help,” said officials. And in turn, New Delhi looks to Teheran with a renewed hope that its long-standing relations with India would get a boost with President Ahmadinejad’s maiden visit.
The nuclear deal, whose fate isn’t certain for political and procedural reasons, could end prematurely while India is going ahead with new energy deals with Iran much to the dismay of the US.
Even as Washington has urged New Delhi to conduct itself when talking to President Ahmadinejad, the two energy deals with Teheran that is worth multi billion dollars could decide the fate of the N-deal.
India is interested in a strategic partnership with Iran that may help New Delhi tap new sources of energy to fuel its growing economy.
Top government officials who would attend the ceremonious welcome of President Ahmadinejad at Rashtrapati Bhavan, told media that India by virtually spurning the US advice on dealing with Iran, would give a well-defined political meaning to the Iranian President’s first visit to India.
Growing Ties
President Ahmadinejad is arriving with a team of business experts who would meet their counterparts here to talk on trade and commerce necessities.
Foreign policy observers point out that India-Iran relationship may have been hit by hiccups in recent years, and questions raised over a centuries-old friendship, but that has not stopped both countries from dealing in mutually beneficial issues. Teheran sent one of its biggest business delegations to Mumbai just a few weeks ago to woo Indian industry.
A 40-member team, including three deputy ministers, heads of Iranian business associations and industrialists, were in India in March to explore joint venture opportunities, and attract investments.
Officials at Iranian Embassy told Khaleej Times that Iran is happy to showcase its achievements in India.
Here, Ministry of External Affairs said it was not just the Iranians who are keen to forge stronger business links with India. “The desire is quite mutual,” say officials. India is looking towards increasing its participating interests in various oil and gas projects in Iran. Officials said India would push for a public-private partnership agreement with Iran, and would seek Iranian investment in the downstream sectors in India.
Indo-Iran business has been quietly prospering despite the disapproval of New Delhi’s new friends in Washington. Though soaring oil prices have been the only saving grace for the country, which holds the world's second-largest reserves of oil and natural gas, allowing it to stomach the impact of sanctions, Teheran is taking no chances to step up ties with India. “This is where Iran looks to India, and feels new business initiatives could help,” said officials. And in turn, New Delhi looks to Teheran with a renewed hope that its long-standing relations with India would get a boost with President Ahmadinejad’s maiden visit.
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