Former Indian Ambassador: Modi's visit to Iran is on agenda

In an exclusive interview to IRNA, Ambassador M.K. Bhadrakumar said that the Indian government is approaching the home stretch in a historic reset of the India-Iran relations.
He highlighted the current visit of the Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to Tehran and Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj on April 16, saying that it isn’t too early to begin pondering about a landmark visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Iran.
A historic visit seems to be in the making.“Pradhan’s is a ‘working visit’ insofar as he has so much business to transact and they involve tens of billions of dollars in business ranging from Indian companies investing in the production of oil and gas in the Iranian fields, transportation of the gas to India possibly in LNG form, a possible swap deal and transportation of the gas through the construction of a subsea pipeline from Chabahar, setting up of petrochemical complex in Iran, and of course the development of Chabahar container port itself.” Added Ambassador M.K. Bhadrakumar has also served in the Indian missions in the former Soviet Union, South Korea, Sri Lanka, West Germany, Kuwait, Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Terming the prospect of the ties between Iran and India after lifting the Western sanctions on Iran as bright, the world famous analyst of the international affairs said that if the things work out well, it will be a great leap forward in the Indian-Iranian economic ties in the new phase of Iran’s reintegration with the world market following the lifting of sanctions. There can be no two opinions that economic partnership is the cornerstone of an enduring India-Iran reset in the 21st century, he said.
'Both countries’ leaders attach high importance to the development of the economy in their respective national agenda.”
Advising India to move fast to improve its all-out relations with Iran, the seasoned former career diplomat, said: “Be that as it may, much depends on how fast and efficiently India can advance its economic cooperation with Iran. Unlike in the past three or four decades, Iranian market is going to be highly competitive.”
Calling Iran as a natural partner of India in fight against terrorism, he said: “India’s big advantage here is that we have no conflict of interests with Iran. In fact, Iran is a natural ally in the fight against terrorism, in the stabilization of Afghanistan and in preserving regional stability and security. Today, happily enough, the US-Iranian engagement also means that it is possible for India now to develop a full-spectrum partnership with Tehran.”
Terming Iran as a genuine power in the Persian Gulf, the expert of the Middle-East affairs said: “The heart of the matter is that given its population of 80 million, land mass, mineral reserves and human resources, industrial and technological base, a relatively developed agriculture and geographical status, it is genuinely a regional power. A strategic understanding with Iran will be to India’s advantage. There is also congruence here insofar as Iran has great awareness of India as an emerging powerhouse and it also prioritizes cooperation with India.”
Elaborating on India’s Persian Gulf policy, he said: “the best part of our Persian Gulf diplomacy is that we are steering clear of the discords in that region and without being prescriptive or partisan, we are endeavoring to pursue our core concerns and vital interests. This is a wise and far-sighted policy.'
Advocating construction of the Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline, Ambassador M.K. Bhadrakumar said: “It is a tantalizing thought but it must be put on paper. Revival of the Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project, against the backdrop of the prevailing tension in India-Pakistan relations and a very grim and dangerous scenario, still offers a ray of hope to stabilize the regional security situation. It can indeed be a peace pipeline and Iran, certainly, will be only too willing to cooperate.”
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