Associate Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr Deepika Saraswat's article 'Anti-hijab protests in Iran: Symptom of a deeper restlessness among the youth' has been published in ‘The Indian Express’ on 22 November 2022.
By pushing the narrative about protests benefiting external enemies, the Iranian regime is hoping to appeal to nationalist sentiments, while also justifying its violent crackdown. Without genuine reforms, Iran’s leaders might be engaging in a temporary firefighting exercise, says Dr Saraswat.
Associate Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr Deepika Saraswat's article ‘India's Inclusive vision for Eurasia' has been published in ‘The National Interest’ on 03 October, 2022.
While Prime Minister Modi’s initial reluctance to join other major democracies in forcefully condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine may seem odd, it is consistent with a pluralistic vision for Eurasia, says Dr Saraswat.
Associate Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr Deepika Saraswat's article 'Out of the Veil in Iran' has been published in the Open Magazine, on 30 September, 2022.
Iran’s youth have been reeling under an economy marred by decades of US sanctions, corruption and the pandemic. The attempts to tighten the noose on social freedoms and the state’s heavy-handedness have therefore invited an almost instant and massive pushback, says Dr Saraswat.
Associate Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr Deepika Saraswat's article 'Iran’s Ties with China: Synergising Geoconomic Strategies' has been published by the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies, on 7 July, 2022.
Associate Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr Deepika Saraswat’s article ‘Iran foreign minister’s visit reaffirms resolve of two countries to strengthen ties’ has been published in ‘The Indian Express’, on 17 June 2022.
The sanctions imposed by the US on Iran after Tehran withdrew from the nuclear deal in 2018 may have virtually destroyed India-Iran trade, especially India’s energy imports from Iran, but the geopolitical logic underpinning relations between the two countries remains firm, says Dr Saraswat.
Associate Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr Deepika Saraswat’s article ‘In endgame of Vienna nuclear talks, Tehran holds the cards’ has been published in ‘The Indian Express’ on 28 March 2022.
Iran is using its growing nuclear capability to bargain an agreement with the US and the West, says Dr Saraswat.
With the failure of moderates’ Western outreach in the aftermath of US withdrawal from the JCPOA, the conservatives, now in power in Iran, are looking for a long-term partnership with Russia which would bring stability in their shared neighbourhood, geoeconomic opportunities and also weaken the influence of moderates and reformists.
Iran’s readiness for restoring diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia after six years since Riyadh cut ties in January 2016 is part of broader revival of diplomacy in the region after a decade of intense geopolitical competition and proxy wars involving Saudi Arabia and its Arab allies and Turkey & Iran.
Iran Delinks Regional and Nuclear Diplomacy
Iran is focussing its diplomatic energies on advancing its ‘neighbourhood policy’ and long-term cooperation with China and Russia.