India is sending out mixed signals. <\/p>\n
Its diplomatic messaging on the Iran crisis is somewhat confusing. Is New Delhi doing a course correction and hedging its bets? Playing both sides as it ensures its national interests in a fast-evolving situation in the Persian Gulf, where Iran, despite unimaginable losses, has been able to withstand the military might of two of the world\u2019s most technologically advanced powers?<\/p>\n
Also read: PM Modi in UAE: India ready to extend all possible support for peace in West Asia<\/a><\/p>\n In the immediate aftermath of the February 28 strikes by the United States and Israel that decapitated Iran\u2019s top leadership, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, New Delhi avoided any direct condemnation. Nor was there a condolence message for the death of a head of state of a country said to be a friend. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) urged restraint, dialogue, and diplomacy, but expressed no outrage at what Iran called an unprovoked and illegal attack on its sovereignty.<\/p>\n India\u2019s balancing act <\/p>\n The early signal was clear, with nearly 10 million Indian nationals working and living in the Gulf region, New Delhi was aligning with key Gulf partners. That perception was reinforced when Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on a brief stopover in the UAE on Friday (May 15), condemned attacks on Emirati territory and signed a defence framework and energy agreement with Abu Dhabi.<\/p>\n “The way UAE has been targeted is not acceptable\u201d, but \u201cthe way UAE has handled the current situation with restraint is praiseworthy,” news reports quoted the PM as saying.<\/p>\n Yet, back in New Delhi, India\u2019s role as chair of the BRICS foreign ministers\u2019 meeting produced a different picture. Lack of consensus led to the customary joint statement being dropped at the end of the two-day meet. With Iran and the UAE both members of an expanded BRICS platform, a consensus was out of the question.<\/p>\n Also read: BRICS falling apart: Can India hold together a divided bloc?<\/a><\/p>\n Instead, India released a chair\u2019s statement, underscoring how internal rivalries and divergent strategic interests are complicating BRICS\u2019 ability to present a unified diplomatic voice. New Delhi acknowledged differences among members over the West Asia crisis, even as all agreed on the need for a permanent end to hostilities affecting developing economies.<\/p>\n Sanctions faultline <\/p>\n The chair\u2019s statement criticised aggression against Iran without explicitly naming the United States or Israel.<\/p>\n \u201cThe ministers condemned the imposition of unilateral coercive measures that are contrary to international law, and reiterated that such measures, inter alia in the form of unilateral economic sanctions and secondary sanctions, have far-reaching negative implications for human rights, including the rights to development, health and food security,\u201d the statement said.<\/p>\n In no uncertain terms, India took on the US for its unilateral sanctions. New Delhi has traditionally not followed sanctions without UN approval, though secondary sanctions, which restrict access to US financial systems, make it difficult for countries to disregard them. Delhi had to fall in line when the US imposed secondary sanctions on lifting Iranian oil.<\/p>\n \u201cThey called for the elimination of such unlawful measures, which undermine international law and the principles and purposes of the UN Charter. They reaffirmed that BRICS member states do not impose or support non-UN Security Council authorised sanctions that are contrary to international law.\u201d<\/p>\n Iran welcomes stand <\/p>\n Though the US or Israel were not mentioned, Iran\u2019s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, was happy with the outcome. He said at a news conference in Delhi that the \u201cBRICS meeting was highly successful. We appreciate BRICS condemning the illegal US-Israeli aggression on Iran. Regarding the Strait of Hormuz, Iran did not start this war; we are strictly exercising our right to self-defense.\u201d<\/p>\n India, as chair of BRICS, appears to have recalibrated its position on the Persian Gulf since the early days of the war in February.<\/p>\n