Russia-India Corridor through Iran Raises Concerns in the US
On July 19, Russian President Vladimir Putin will travel to Tehran and hold talks with the leaders of Iran and Turkey.
The New York Times has already written that "Putin is actively engaged in diplomacy, seeking to strengthen military and economic support for non-Western countries "to counter Western military assistance to Ukraine and anti-Russian sanctions."
States that Want Independence
Indeed, against the background of the Russian military special operation in Ukraine, anti-Russian countries and those who are forced to cave under US pressure have publicly taken an uncompromising Russophobic position. On the other hand, ther're states, they emerged now, that are determined to act in their own national interests. The latter perceive the SMO nothing short of a historical opportunity. These states include Iran, China and India.
From Words to Deeds
A few days ago, a Russian container train heading for India was allowed to cross the Iranian border. It was met personally by the vice-president of the country, Mohammad Mokhber, as well as the ministers of Road and Urban Development , Petroleum, Industry, Mine and Trade and Agriculture.
“The country's transit capacity has increased to 20 million tons. Thus, we can achieve 300 million tons of transit of goods per year,” Mokhber said.
And according to the managing director of the Khorasan Railways, the Russia-India corridor is a sustainable, cost-effective, fast North-South transit route that can be used to transport millions of tons of cargo - this corresponds to the capacity of Iranian railways.
And There's Even More
Also there's a maritime cooperation element in Russia-Iran relations. Thus, the Caspian is used to shorten the transit route from Russia to India.
Earlier this week, the shipping lines of the Islamic Republic allocated 300 containers to transport goods from Russia to India and back. The route along the North-South corridor looks like this: Russian cargo is sent from St. Petersburg to Astrakhan, from there it sails along the Caspian Sea to the northern Iranian port of Anzali, and then delivered to the southern port of Bandar Abbas in the Persian Gulf. Further, the cargo is transported by ships to the Indian port of Nhava Sheva.
Tehran promised that if demand increases, the number of containers will constantly increase.
US Throw a Fit
The US Consulate General in Mumbai directly appealed to the Mumbai Port Authority with a request not to allow Russian vessels to dock. They say that there are American sanctions against Moscow, and Delhi should take this into account.
In India, they did not reckon with the Americans. The Port Authority in Mumbai sent a letter to the country's General Directorate of Shipping, which requested the relevant instructions from the Ministry of External Affairs. In the end, it was declared that the Indians have the sovereign right to do business with global partners in the national interest.
In the US, they immediately stated that the conversation on this topic was private. In response, a senior defense analyst at the American research centre RAND writes:
Seems Biden admin has shifted tactics when pressuring India. Instead of speaking directly to New Delhi, US consulate in Mumbai writes a letter to Mumbai Port Authority to bar Russian ships. Of course New Delhi found out. Silly move by US.
In Total
If Iran has traditionally resisted Western pressure by circumventing its sanctions and ignoring prohibitions (as it is with Syria), then India has only recently shown surprising resolution in its intention not to succumb to pressure from the United States.
Here it is necessary to highlight the decision of New Delhi to buy Russian oil in record quantities, as well as trade with Russia in national currencies.