Introduction
India’s policy during the current West Asia crisis is driven by strong economic, strategic and diplomatic stakes with the US, Israel and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries as compared to its civilizational relations with Iran. India’s deepening defence partnership with Israel and the US, its expanding trade relations with the US, its energy dependency on GCC countries, and its large diaspora both in the US and GCC make these relationships critical to the national interest of India. Conversely, India’s relations with Iran, once on a strong footing particularly due to energy connectivity have been on constant decline owing to US pressure and sanctions.
