The Iranian Factor in Indo-US Relations

There exists a set of myths and realities on the impact of Indo-US relations on India’s behavior towards Iran. One of such myths is that India coordinates its policy vis-à-vis Iran with Washington, and America-India axis is damaging Indo-Iranian relationship, known for its deep rooted history of friendship and cooperation. What is reality about the involvement of the US factor in contemporary interactions between India and Iran? This is the key question for the current research, which begins with the demystification of the dominant perception of the US role in the triangle of the US–India–Iranian relationship. Then, it identifies the determining factors shaping India’s foreign policy, at large, and its policy toward Iran, in particular. It is argued that India’s approach towards Iran is determined by its foreign policymaker elite’s perception of India in the international system, its national interests as well as the emergence of new foreign policy elites. Therefore, US foreign policy is not the sole factor shaping New Delhi-Tehran interactions.