India’s Official Stand
The Ministry of External Affairs has called for immediate dialogue and diplomacy, flagging the risk to Indian nationals and trade routes. India has urged all parties to ‘exercise restraint’ but has not issued any condemnation of either the US-Israeli strikes or Iran’s retaliatory operations. This carefully neutral tone mirrors India’s long-standing non-alignment doctrine.
Why India Cannot Take Sides
India faces a complex set of competing interests. On one hand, India maintains strong strategic and defence ties with Israel and enjoys a close partnership with the United States. On the other, India has historically maintained warm ties with Iran, including the Chabahar Port project which gives India strategic access to Central Asia and Afghanistan bypassing Pakistan.
Economic Stakes
India’s economic stakes in the region are enormous. Nearly 10 million Indians work in Gulf countries and send back remittances of over $30 billion annually. India also imports a large share of its crude oil from the Gulf. Any disruption to these relationships could have severe economic consequences for India.
India’s Diplomatic Legacy
India’s neutrality in Middle East conflicts reflects its traditional non-alignment policy that dates back to the founding era of Indian foreign policy under Nehru. Even as India has grown closer to the West and the US in recent decades, New Delhi has carefully preserved its independent voice in Middle Eastern affairs.
The Press of Asia will continue monitoring India’s diplomatic positioning as the Iran-US-Israel conflict evolves.