Iran President Ebrahim Raisi Dies in Helicopter Crash: Implications for India-Iran Relations | Foreign Policy | International Relationship
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his sorrow on May 20 over the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, who was killed in a helicopter crash the previous day. In his message on X (formerly Twitter), PM Modi conveyed India's support for Iran during this difficult period.
"Deeply saddened and shocked by the tragic death of Dr. Seyed Ebrahim Raisi, President of Iran. His efforts to enhance India-Iran relations will always be remembered. My heartfelt condolences to his family and the people of Iran. India stands with Iran in this time of sorrow," the Prime Minister said.
The helicopter carrying Raisi and other officials, including Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, crashed on Sunday in the Dizmar forest in East Azarbaijan Province, according to state media Press TV. Everyone on board died.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also expressed his condolences, calling Raisi's death 'shocking'. Raisi, 63, was elected President in 2021 and was considered a leading candidate to succeed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s 85-year-old supreme leader.
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India-Iran Relations
Prime Minister Modi last met with President Raisi in August 2023, just before the BRICS summit in Johannesburg. New Delhi supported Iran's application to join BRICS, and Iran became a member of the group in September 2023 during the South Africa BRICS summit.
India and Iran have had historical and cultural ties for a long time. Over the decades, India has maintained good relations with countries in the region, including Iran, which borders Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Bilateral trade between India and Iran improved after Raisi became President in 2021. In 2022-23, Iran was India’s 59th largest trading partner, with trade reaching $2.33 billion. India's trade with Iran increased by 21.77% from $1.94 billion in 2021-22 to $2.33 billion in 2022-23, according to a report.
“For India, Iran is a stabilizing force in the Persian Gulf, and military and security cooperation between the two countries is increasing,” Jayanth Jacob, a foreign policy commentator, wrote in a recent piece in the Deccan Herald.
The Chabahar Port Deal
On May 13, India and Iran signed a ten-year contract for the Iranian Chabahar Port after years of negotiations. This deal allows for the full use of the strategic port in southeastern Iran, which was developed with Indian assistance, and aims to expand trade with Central Asia. Previously, one-year contracts were signed to keep the port operational.
The new agreement, replacing the original 2016 deal, was signed by Indian Ports Global Limited (IPGL) and the Port & Maritime Organisation of Iran. IGPL will invest $120 million and raise $250 million as debt.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the Chabahar Port pact an important milestone that will help provide much-needed connectivity to Afghanistan. "In 2016, during my visit to Iran, the trilateral agreement between India, Iran, and Afghanistan was signed to provide the much-needed connectivity to Afghanistan,” PM Modi told news agency PTI.
The PM said his government has prioritized Chabahar Port since coming to power in 2014.
The deaths of Raisi and the foreign minister, key figures in foreign policy decisions, might delay but not disrupt the deal, as the supreme leader makes the final decisions.
According to the Iranian constitution, if a president dies in office, the first vice president takes over. Iran's current first vice president, Mohammad Mokhber, has been appointed as the interim president with the approval of the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Elections for the next president must be held within 50 days.
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