India should mediate to resolve the US-Iran dispute, appeals Iran -

New Delhi: Iranian Foreign Minister Jawad Zarif, returned to the homeland, on completion of his three-day visit to India. Zarif made a striking statement before completing this visit. Foreign Minister Zarif said that India could play an essential role in resolving the dispute between Iran and the United States. At the same time, saying that Iran will need assistance from India to build a railway line, from the Chabahar port in Iran to Afghanistan, Zarif appealed to India.

The Iranian Foreign Minister was in India for the ‘RAISINA Dialogue’ held in New Delhi. This is the first appearance of the Iranian Foreign Minister on the dais, after the killing of General Qassem Soleimani, by the United States. Despite this, Foreign Minister Zarif refrained from taking a super aggressive stand. Instead, he appealed to India, saying that India can make a vital contribution in resolving the dispute between Iran and the United States. The Iranian Foreign Minister reiterated the appeal, at the end of his visit.

India is the closest ally for Iran and India also shares excellent relations with the United States. Therefore, India can play an essential role in resolving the dispute between Iran and the United States. At the same time, Foreign Minister Zarif expressed an expectation that India will continue to buy oil from Iran. India was compelled to reduce its oil purchase from Iran, following the harsh sanctions imposed by the United States, against Iran. Iran had expressed regret over the Indian decision and had said that this was not expected from a country like India.

But the analysts claim that India still purchases oil in large quantities from Iran, but there is no information available. Although there is no official confirmation, it is apparent that India has succeeded in maintaining excellent relations with Iran, despite the reduction in oil imports. Moreover, the United States has avoided sanctions against the Chabahar port development project, and this has had a positive impact on the relations between India and Iran.

Using this same thread, Iranian Foreign Minister appealed to India, to use its good offices with the United States, to resolve the dispute between Iran and the United States. At the same time, the Iranian Foreign Minister said that Iran would need assistance from India in the project for the development of the Chabahar port.

Rail services will have to be developed from the Chabahar port to Afghanistan. Iran has its rail services, but the Iranian Foreign Minister said that Iran would not be able to build the railway line from Chabahar to Afghanistan, without Indian assistance.

Zarif criticised that although the United States has omitted the Chabahar port from the sanctions, the India-Iran trade is being severely affected because of the sanctions. But claiming that India can find a way out of this, Zarif appealed for Indian mediation. On the one hand, both the United States as well as Iran are spewing venom of criticism at each other, and on the other hand, both are seen making efforts to keep the options open, for a political solution. Against this background, the appeal made to India, to mediate, becomes significant.