India-Iran diplomatic, political and economic relations (1979-2012)

The two countries India and Iran are among the great civilizations of the world. Relations between the two countries are hundreds of years old, passed down from generation to generation. It has experienced many ups and downs in its Relations between India and Iran from the very beginning, due to international and regional constraints or internal dynamics. However, with the British administration of India, the division of India, and the creation of Pakistan, India lost its direct land link with Iran. By the 21st century, a new page was opened in bilateral relations as India emerged as one of the internationally promising forces with a fast growing economy. At a global level, Iran is an important country for India. Especially Iran's geographical location is located as a major energy sources and a gateway to Central Asian countries and Afghanistan. In addition, cheap and high-quality educational opportunities for the Iranian Middle class are available in India. In the defense sector, Iran can receive substantial assistance from India in its modernization. Therefore, the relationship between India and Iran is based on interests that can provide a very strong basis for developing a mutual and long-term strategic relationship. Both India and Iran are important and emerging regional powers in world politics and both look forward to playing an active and dominant global power role in world politics. This study focuses on the strategic relations between India and Iran according to the theory of neo realism, which emphasizes the importance of the structure of an international system and its role as the primary determinant of state behavior. The aim of this thesis is to determine the most important influencing factors such as system, security and economy in shaping strategic relations and examine the various components of establishing strategic relations between countries in the international system. Relations between India and Iran are deepening on many issues, especially security, energy and the North-South Transport Corridor. However, the two countries have a long way to go to achieve strategic relations. This thesis aims to explain how global and regional actors are influential in diploma, political and economic relations between India and Iran.