At this year’s G20 summit, held in New Delhi last month, leaders of several states—including European governments, India, Saudi Arabia, the US, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE)—signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on an initiative to connect India to Europe via West Asia. Dubbed the “India-Europe-Middle East Corridor” (IMEC), the route is viewed by some observers as a rival to China’s 'Belt and Road Initiative', and as a means to isolate Iran.

India will embark on this new trade route despite having committed to several major transit projects with Iran: namely, the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), and development of the southeastern Iranian Chabahar Port.

Amwaj.media spoke to Indian and Iranian government officials to understand how delays to the INSTC and Chabahar Port projects may have...