The Return Of Iran’s Shah Could Be Bad News For India – Here’s Why | World News

Iranian Unrest: Iran’s exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi, who has hinted at a possible return to power amid ongoing anti-government unrest in Tehran, said a “democratic Iranian state” under his leadership would aim to establish close and cooperative relations with India. Speaking in Washington at a news conference, he drew on centuries of shared history and culture to highlight the potential for partnership.

“Relations between India and Iran have a long history. Culturally, they were also based on many years,” he said.

He also emphasized that modern ties are strong. “It is natural for a democratic Iran to be determined to have the best possible relationship in the context of sovereignty and freedom, to have the best possible relationship with any country that is committed to the same values, able to work with us and partner with us in many different areas,” Pahlavi said.

The Crown Prince called India an important partner in tackling global challenges, highlighting pressing issues such as energy scarcity, population pressures and water crises. “There are many challenges that we have to face on our planet. We have energy problems, we have population problems. We have energy scarcity problems. We have a water crisis,” he said.

He highlighted India’s technological strength as an important area for cooperation. “India is one of the leading countries in technology, in expertise. I think these are the kinds of things that will help us in every area we need to focus on,” he said.

He also suggested that cooperation could expand into renewable energy and emerging sectors, and expressed a desire for the business and scientific communities in both countries to become more closely involved. “I look forward to our experts, entrepreneurs, business sector and everyone else working very closely with our Indian counterpart,” he added.

Opportunities and Risks for India

While Pahlavi’s return could pave the way for stronger economic and technological cooperation, the consequences for India are complex and fraught with risks.

The royal family under Pahlavi’s father, Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, maintained strong ties with Pakistan. The Shah supported Pakistan in both the 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pakistani wars and supported Islamabad’s stance on Kashmir on international platforms, often accusing India of aggression.

Analysts warn that the restoration of the Pahlavi regime could push Tehran towards a pro-Pakistan stance and complicate New Delhi’s regional strategy.

The Pahlavi restoration is also expected to bring Iran closer to Washington. This realignment could impact American energy and security policies in the region and potentially impact India’s strategic projects.

Experts say that Pahlavi’s return may occur with Western-backed political maneuvers. Such a scenario could lead to instability or strengthen a US-Iran-Pakistan axis that challenges India’s position in the region.

On the positive side, Pahlavi presents himself as a democratic reformer. India’s fascination with the IT and renewable energy sectors hints at new avenues of cooperation. If realized, it could enable closer technology exchange, investment and partnerships, the return of which would economically benefit both countries.

For India, the Pahlavi factor is a complex mix of promise and danger. While the potential for trade, technology cooperation and stronger bilateral relations exists, strategic risks ranging from Chabahar’s reach to regional alignment cannot be ignored.

With Iran’s political future at stake, India’s policymakers will have to weigh these opportunities against the long-term consequences for regional security, trade and diplomacy.