On September 10, 2024, a landmark webinar titled “Challenges and Opportunities in the India-Iran Bilateral Relations” took place, organized by NatStrat and Sharif Governance and Policy Think Tank (GPTT). This event was a direct outcome of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the two institutions, reflecting the growing focus on addressing key geopolitical shifts and the evolving dynamics in West Asia, particularly the relationship between India and Iran.

The webinar brought together renowned experts from both nations, including Mr. M.J. Akbar, former Minister of State for External Affairs, Ambassador Pankaj Saran, Convenor of NatStrat and former Deputy National Security Advisor, and Ambassador Gaddam Dharmendra, former Ambassador to Iran. On the Iranian side, prominent figures such as Dr. Manouchehr Mottaki, former Foreign Minister, and current Parliament member, Dr. Alireza Miryousefi, Director of the 3rd Division for South Asia at the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Dr. Emamian, Co-founder and Senior Advisor of GPTT, contributed their insights.

Throughout the discussion, the panelists tackled pressing geopolitical issues, focusing on the challenges and opportunities within West Asia. The dialogue explored avenues for economic and strategic cooperation between the two nations, with an emphasis on the ongoing global crises, such as the conflict in Ukraine and the humanitarian disaster in Gaza, which underscore the need for collaboration between countries with aligned interests.

As ancient civilizations and neighboring powers, India and Iran stand poised to play pivotal roles in addressing modern-day challenges. The webinar highlighted three core pillars in the bilateral relationship: energy, connectivity, and trade. However, it was acknowledged that the level of engagement between the two countries has yet to meet expectations, largely due to a lack of commitment from both sides. This has stalled key initiatives, including the Chabahar project.

Participants emphasized that continued intellectual diplomacy can foster a greater willingness to cooperate and tackle unresolved issues. Looking forward, the proposal for future meetings to address “The Model of Economic Cooperation During Disrupted World Trade” aims to strengthen the India-Iran partnership in this ever-evolving geopolitical landscape.