Indian Council of World Affairs

The Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) held its Third Dialogue with its MoU partner the Institute for Political and International Studies (IPIS), Iran on 16 January 2024 in Tehran. The Dialogue focused on perspectives on the changing world order and bilateral ties. ICWA delegation was led by Amb. Vijay Thakur Singh, DG ICWA and IPIS delegation was led by Dr. Shirgholami, Vice President, IPIS. DG ICWA met Muhammad Hassan Shaykh al-Islami, President, IPIS as well as Mostafa Zamanian, Head, Centre for Strategic Studies, Tehran during the visit. She also held an interaction with the scholars of the Centre for Strategic Studies, Tehran. 

In her opening remarks, Amb. Vijay Thakur Singh, DG, ICWA noted that India and Iran share historical and civilisational ties and have maintained a regular momentum of high-level interactions. India-Iran ties are not limited to political engagements but also have strong people-to-people dimension. A new world order is taking shape and today a multipolar world is in play. New power centres are emerging and there are realignments and rebalancing in relationships. India is clear that it will be a force for global good, a voice of the Global South, an engine of growth in the regional and global economy, and a trusted friend. India seeks to build friendships for achieving peace and stability in the region and beyond. India pursues an independent foreign policy by exercising strategic autonomy. 

First session of the dialogue was chaired by Amb Vijay Thakur Singh, DG, ICWA and focused on India-Iran bilateral relations. The speakers were Dr. Alireza Miryousefi, Director, 3rd Division for South Asia (Indian Subcontinent), MFA, Dr. F. R. Siddiqui, Senior Research Fellow, ICWA, Dr. Gholam Reza Ansari, Former Ambassador of Iran to India, and Dr. Lakshmi Priya, Research Fellow, ICWA. The participants reaffirmed that India and Iran relations are historic; shared history and close civilizational links provide a strong foundation to the relationship. Connectivity is a key pillar of bilateral ties between India and Iran and the two sides are focused on providing momentum to the Chabahar project. The port has facilitated humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan and consignments of other countries have also moved through Chabahar. India has supported the inclusion of Chabahar in INSTC. India and Iran share a long history of cooperation in the field of education. India has decided to include Farsi as one of the nine classical languages of India in the New Education Policy. There are new avenues for cooperation in agriculture, renewable energy, digital economy and digital-connectivity. 

The second session was chaired by Dr. Shirgholami, Vice President, IPIS and focused on the India-Iran Perspective on Changing World Order. The speakers were Dr. Seyed Kazem Sajjadpour, Senior Expert, IPIS, Prof. Chintamani Mahapatra, Founder, Kalinga Institute of Indo-Pacific Studies, Dr. Nabi Sonboli, Senior Expert, IPIS, and Dr. Lakshmi Priya, Research Fellow, ICWA. The participants discussed the emerging multipolarity amidst geopolitical flux and uncertainty and the need for reforms in multilateral institutions of global governance with the reform of the UN Security Council at its core. It was noted that Iran’s membership of SCO and BRICS is a welcome development and India looks forward to closely cooperate with Iran in these foras. It was noted that India and Iran have a special responsibility to become the voice of the Global South. India appreciates Iranian high-level participation at the Voice of Global South Summits that it hosted last year. India’s policy of zero tolerance for terrorism was noted. Both sides are aware of the several terror groups having been harboured, trained and financed in their shared neighbourhood. The Israel-Gaza conflict, the Ukraine conflict, tensions in the Red Sea and the re-emergence of piracy and maritime terrorism and the growing tensions in Indo-Pacific were discussed and the urgent need for de-escalation and recourse to dialogue and diplomacy was emphasized.

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