Deepika Saraswat

Dr. Deepika Saraswat is Associate Fellow at the West Asia Center. Her research interests include Iran’s geopolitics in Middle East and Eurasia and interpenetration of religion and politics in postcolonial contexts. Her research project at MP-IDSA is on ‘Iran’s Asian Orientation: Quest for Status and Regional Cooperation.Dr. Saraswat has a PhD in Political Geography from Centre for International Politics Organisation and Disarmament, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. Earlier, Dr. Saraswat was Research Fellow at the Indian Council of World Affairs (March 2018-October 2021). Her book titled ‘Between Survival and Status: The Counter-hegemonic Geopolitics of Iran’ was jointly published by the Indian Council of World Affairs and Macmillan Education in January 2022.

Associate Fellow

Publication

Deepika Saraswat’s Article ‘Israel’s 12-day war leaves Iran on a security-first path’ Published in Frontline

Associate Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr Deepika Saraswat’s article ‘Israel’s 12-day war leaves Iran on a security-first path’ has been published in Frontline on 23 July, 2025. The war deepened Iran’s isolation but revived its nationalist core, accelerating a shift from revolutionary idealism to strategic pragmatism’ says Dr Saraswat. Read Complete Article [+] Disclaimer: The views expressed by the author are personal and do not in any way reflect the views of MP-IDSA or the Government of India.

Deepika Saraswat’s Article ‘Détente and discord: Tehran’s dilemmas’ Published in Hindustan Times

Associate Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr Deepika Saraswat’s article ‘Détente and discord: Tehran’s dilemmas’, has been published in Hindustan Times on 25 June 2025. After a US-backed ceasefire, Iran faces a pivotal decision on its nuclear program amid attacks from Israel and US. The future of its diplomacy hangs in balance, says Dr Saraswat. Read Complete Article [+] Disclaimer: The views expressed by the author are personal and do not in any way reflect the views of MP-IDSA or the Government of India.

Deepika Saraswat’s Article ‘From Gaza to Tehran: Israel’s Expanding War in the Middle East’ Published in India’s World

Associate Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr Deepika Saraswat’s article ‘From Gaza to Tehran: Israel’s Expanding War in the Middle East’ has been published in India's World Magazine on 20 June, 2025.

As the conflict stretches on, Iran will come to see escalation against Israel as a form of deterrence by punishment. Iranian leaders have warned that an American intervention will invite an “all-out war” in the region.

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Disclaimer: The views expressed by the author are personal and do not in any way reflect the views of MP-IDSA or the Government of India.

Deepika Saraswat’s Article ‘Iran in India-Middle East Relations: Between Autonomy and Alignment’ Published in India’s World Magazine

Associate Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr Deepika Saraswat's article ‘Iran in India-Middle East Relations: Between Autonomy and Alignment' has been published in India's World Magazine issue, titled Rethinking the Middle East, Volume 1,  Issue 3, May-June, 2025.

As India contemplates a greater role in the Middle East, Iran’s geopolitical relevance remains undiminished…India’s growing alignment with the United States and its allies will push it to take a more critical view of destabilising aspects of Iran’s non-state policy, writes Dr Saraswat

Read Complete Article [+] Disclaimer: The views expressed by the author are personal and do not in any way reflect the views of MP-IDSA or the Government of India.

Deepika Saraswat’s Article ‘Washington and Tehran: A struggle for leverage’ Published in Hindustan Times

Associate Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr Deepika Saraswat’s article ‘Washington and Tehran: A struggle for leverage’ has been published in Hindustan Times on 21 March 2025.

Under the Biden regime, Iran engaged in indirect talks to revive the nuclear agreement. This shows that any diplomatic settlement will need engaging with the US, says Dr Saraswat.

Read Complete Article [+]

Disclaimer: The views expressed by the author are personal and do not in any way reflect the views of MP-IDSA or the Government of India.