India Declares State Mourning For Iran's President Raisi: A Look At Strengthened India-Iran Ties

Iran is in mourning following the death of its President Ebrahim Raisi, the foreign minister, and several other officials in a helicopter crash in a mountainous region near the Azerbaijan border.

The wreckage of the chopper, which crashed on Sunday, May 19, was found early Monday after an overnight search in foggy and treacherous weather conditions.

Tributes have been paid to Raisi by several world leaders, including the Indian Prime Minister. PM Narendra Modi expressed his condolences on X, stating, "Deeply saddened and shocked by the tragic demise of Dr. Seyed Ebrahim Raisi, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran. His contribution to strengthening the India-Iran bilateral relationship will always be remembered. My heartfelt condolences to his family and the people of Iran. India stands with Iran in this time of sorrow."

Further, as a mark of respect to the departed dignitaries, one day's state mourning has been decided by the Government of India on May 21 throughout India, as reported by ANI. On the day of mourning, the national flag will be flown at half-mast throughout India on all buildings where the national flag is regularly flown, and no official entertainment will be held on that day, according to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

India-Iran Relations

India's ties with Iran, which have grown in recent years, have been highlighted. The historical and cultural relations shared by India and Iran date back centuries. Following the end of the Cold War, India has endeavoured to maintain cordial relations with most countries in West Asia. Iran, which borders Afghanistan and Pakistan, is considered a key player in the region.

The two countries marked the beginning of their diplomatic relations by signing a friendship treaty in 1950. After the Iranian Revolution in 1979, a "new phase of engagement" began, as noted by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). Trade and connectivity have also defined New Delhi's ties with Tehran. In 2022-23, India's bilateral trade with Iran reached $2.33 billion. While trade had declined in recent years, it saw a 21.77 per cent uptick in 2022-23 after Raisi came to power in 2021.

India and Iran share common concerns about the Taliban's Sunni extremism and Pakistan's role in Afghanistan. For New Delhi, Iran is considered a "strong regional partner" in Afghanistan. Jayanth Jacob, a foreign policy commentator, noted that Iran is seen as a stabilizing force in the Persian Gulf, and military and security cooperation between the two countries is on the rise.

However, US sanctions on Iran have affected India's relations with Tehran. New Delhi has yet to resume crude oil imports from Iran but has been trying to work with Iran despite the threats of US sanctions.

Raisi, a 63-year-old hardline cleric, shared special ties with India. He hailed from the Iranian province of Khorasan and believed in expanding ties with the East, including India, according to a report by the Economic Times (ET). People familiar with Iranian politics indicated that Raisi had a "special affinity" for India.

Many Indian families have historical links to Khorasan, with some members of the Parsi community in India originating from Iran's Greater Khorasan area.

When Raisi, who enjoyed close ties with Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, took office as Iran's president in August 2021, India was among the few nations invited to the swearing-in ceremony. External Affairs Minister (EAM) Subrahmanyam Jaishankar represented India at the event and was the first foreign minister of any country to meet Raisi as president-elect in July 2021.

Recently, India signed a 10-year pact to develop and operate Iran's strategic Chabahar Port, a project backed by New Delhi despite US sanctions threats. Jaishankar stated that India would "communicate the benefits" of the deal to the US and urge countries not to "take a narrow view of it." The port is significant for India as it provides an alternative route to enhance trade ties with landlocked Afghanistan and Central Asian countries, bypassing regional rival Pakistan.

The project discussions, which began in 2003, had hit a roadblock after US sanctions on Iran. They were renewed after the US eased sanctions under the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. During PM Modi's visit to Iran in 2016, the two countries, along with Afghanistan, signed an agreement to develop the port to avoid routes in Pakistan.

Despite rocky relations, Iran also maintains ties with Pakistan. Last month, during Raisi's visit to Islamabad, Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif raised the issue of Kashmir, thanking Raisi for his "support." However, Raisi refrained from mentioning Kashmir during a joint press conference with Sharif.

When tensions between Iran and Israel escalated in April, New Delhi called for de-escalation, and EAM Jaishankar spoke to both counterparts. Under Raisi, Iran announced a 15-day visa-free policy for Indian tourists in February.

Raisi's death has occurred at a time when West Asia is grappling with increased tensions amid Israel's war in Gaza. India is closely watching the developments in Iran as Raisi's successor takes over.