Israel and India Continue Friendship Despite Indo-Iranian Trade

American Jewish Groups are voicing their disappointment with India’s decision to trade with Iran, in spite of the fact that most of the west has approved sanctions against Iran, because of its refusal to give up its nuclear ambitions.
According to the Hindustan Times, The American Jewish Committee wrote a letter to Nirupama Rao, India’s ambassador to the United States, condemning India’s
decision to try to profit from increased trade with Iran, while others hoped to
prevent “a dangerously aggressive” regime from obtaining nuclear
weapons.

To add insult to injury, India is not just pursuing the trading
operations it had prior to the sanctioning of Iran; it is attempting to expand
trade. India’s commerce secretary recently announced that it would send a
delegation of business representatives to take advantage of opportunities
presented by Europe’s withdrawal from trade with Iran. This move came as a
surprise to India’s western allies, who have been able to count on India’s
support in the past. According to Reuters, India voted against Iran in
International Atomic Energy Agency meetings three times. Nevertheless, India is
standing by its decision to continue to trade with Iran.

The AJC criticized India for putting commerce before security. Because India purchases
most of its oil from Iran, it would, in all likelihood, be tremendously
expensive for India to obtain oil elsewhere. On the other hand, India has often
sought to portray itself as a friend of the west. Now, AJC leaders are
suggesting that India may lose its standing with America and the western
world.

Yet, a recent attack on an Israeli embassy in India fostered
cooperation between Israel and India, even as tensions flared. India provided
Israel with evidence suggesting that Iran was behind the bombing of its
embassy.

Furthermore, during a visit by Kamal Nath, Minister of Urban
Development to Israel, Israel and India signed an agreement saying they would cooperate together on water treatment technology. While Israel may not be pleased with India’s decision to continue to trade with Iran, it is also not ready to give up its friendship with India because of it.

While American and Western diplomats continue to urge India to join the embargo against Iran, Israel has not openly questioned India’s trade relations with Iran.