New Delhi will be eager to know what the Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki, who arrives this week, has to offer on the three major issues that, of late, are troubling the bilateral relations.

Since the Cold War ended, Indo-Iranian relations were on the upswing and enjoyed a rare foreign policy consensus in the country.

Both Congress and the BJP invested considerable political capital in promoting strong ties with Tehran. The high point trend was the hosting of President Mohammed Khatami as the chief guest of the 2003 Republic Day celebrations.

But lately, especially since the surprise victory of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad an year ago in the Iranian elections, a downhill movement has started.

From New Delhi’s point of view, three issues dominate and undermine the bilateral agenda.

First and foremost, India is apprehensive of Iranian nuclear ambitions. Agreed, the manner in which India expressed its concerns vis-a-vis this issue may be questionable and New Delhi could have handled its vote at the IAEA more tactfully. But given the A Q Khan connection, India would have opposed Iran even without the American angle. Furthermore, as far as the nuclear issue is concerned, India is on the same side as China and Russia: a nuclear Iran is a threat to its long-term strategic interests.

Any peaceful and diplomatic resolution will require Iran’s ability and willingness to swiftly, unequivocally and decisively convince the international community, especially the IAEA, of its peaceful intentions.

While New Delhi does not see any military solution to the conflict, it also does not share Iranian penchant for dragging its feet.

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