Opinion: Wednesday was a major day for Iran’s Eurasia diplomacy

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – (Opinion) Wednesday came and went without most of the world batting an eye but it was actually a major day for Iran’s Eurasian diplomacy. Foreign Minister Abdollahian arrived in India on a three-day visit, during which time he met with his Indian counterpart Jaishankar as well as Prime Minister Modi.

The first revealed that they discussed enhancing their connectivity, presumably through the North-South Transport Corridor [NSTC], while the second praised their civilizational links in a wink to the NSTC’s role in facilitating trans-civilizational integration between those two and their shared Russian strategic partner.

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In what certainly wasn’t a coincidence, the Russian and Iranian Presidents also held a call on that exact same day, which altogether implies that these three Great Powers are closely coordinating the creation of a third pole of influence amidst the most intense phase of the global systemic transition.

The paradigm changes brought about by the US-led West’s unprecedented anti-Russian sanctions in response to Moscow’s ongoing special military operation in Ukraine have suddenly created some pretty attractive strategic opportunities for the Islamic Republic.

Prior to this, it was only incrementally expanding relations with countries beyond its immediate region in West Asia, with its greatest achievement up until that point being the 25-year strategic partnership pact that it clinched with China last year.

That in turn raised hopes that Iran can eventually become a Beijing-backed industrial and logistics powerhouse in the region, especially upon China making progress in pioneering a connectivity corridor to it across Central Asia like it once again discussed doing on Wednesday of all days when agreeing to expand the Belt & Road Initiative (BRI) through that part of Eurasia.

China’s Middle Corridor is aimed at strengthening ties with those countries, the ones in the South Caucasus, and Turkey but can easily be expanded to incorporate its new strategic partners in Iran too.

Coupled with Iran’s integral role in bringing together Russia and India, these crisscrossing connectivity corridors create the potential for the Islamic Republic to position itself smack dab in the center of Eurasia’s cutting-edge integration projects.

It’s with this ambitious grand strategic vision in mind that its President talked to his Russian counterpart on the same day that his Foreign Minister was dispatched to their shared Indian strategic partner, which is why Wednesday was such a major day for Iran’s Eurasian diplomacy.

This post is mirrored from oneworld.press