India's abstention on view against Iran at IAEA strengthens bilateral relations
India has maintained that its position on global developments is governed by its national interests
A statement withdrawn. An abstention registered. In an incredibly unstable world, where your friend's friends might week be your foes, India and Iran are working at keeping their bilateral friendly and mutually beneficial.
India's abstention at a vote at a vote on an International Atomic Energy Agency resolution slamming Iran on the opacity of its nuclear programme is the latest case in point.
While 30 countries voted for the resolution, many, including Russia, China, Bangladesh, Pakistan abstained from the vote.
India has maintained that its position on global developments is governed by its national interests.
Iran foreign minister Amir Abdollahian is in India. He reportedly raised the issue of the controversy over connects in the Prophet in his interaction with National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, but that part was later removed from Iran's press statement.
According to the Ministry of external affairs the matter was not raised by the interaction with S Jaishankar. MEA noted the withdrawal of the but from the Irani statement but did not elaborate.
India and Iran have had their bilateral tested. Since Donald Trump took over as President of the US in 2016 and decided to walk away from the painstakingly crafted Iran civil nuclear deal, which also involved many European nations.
As India signed a slew of defence treaties with an eye on China, it was forced to zero it's crude oil imports from Iran.
Miffed Iran maintained it understands Indian compulsions.
However, progress on the Chabahar connectivity project into which India was definede invested however weren't into the slow mode.
Iran foreign minister's visit to India was with an eye on the bilateral as well as trade.
The controversy over the Prophet was ill-timed and an unnecessary headache diplomatically which required smooth and adept handling.
Iran said it was satisfied with the action India had taken in the matter.
India's abstention at the IAEA may be in line with India's policy on votes of such nature. Yet, it is a show of confidence with Iran that the latter will appreciate given 30 countries, most of which are actively wooing India, voted on the resolution.
