India’s ties with Israel ‘unfortunate’

Iran Voices Strong Disapproval of India-Israel Ties

In a pointed diplomatic jab, Iran has labeled India's growing relationship with Israel as "unfortunate." This remark comes hot on the heels of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's state visit to Israel on February 25-26, 2026, where the two nations announced an upgrade to a "Special Strategic Partnership for Peace, Innovation & Prosperity." Iranian officials see this move as a shift that disrupts the regional balance, particularly straining Tehran's own ties with New Delhi. For years, India has navigated a delicate balancing act in the Middle East, maintaining strong economic and strategic links with both Israel and Iran while engaging Arab nations and supporting the Palestinian cause. But the latest developments signal a tilt that Iran finds troubling, potentially complicating longstanding cooperation in energy and trade.

Modi's visit, the second official trip by an Indian prime minister to Israel since independence, builds on the foundation laid during his 2017 journey and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's 2018 reciprocation. The leaders highlighted progress in defense, technology, agriculture, and security, pledging deeper collaboration in AI, cybersecurity, and counter-terrorism. Joint statements emphasized complementary strengths: Israel's innovation prowess paired with India's manufacturing and talent pool. This partnership aims to bolster India's self-reliant development goals by 2047, but it has sparked concerns from Iran about shifting alliances in a volatile region.

Deepening India-Israel Partnership Amid Regional Tensions

The joint communique from the visit outlined ambitious plans, including Memorandums of Understanding on AI cooperation and an Indo-Israel Cyber Centre of Excellence. Defence ties, already robust, are set to expand into joint development of air and missile systems, intelligence sharing, and AI-enabled capabilities. Both nations, long scarred by terrorism, committed to enhanced counter-terrorism frameworks. Israel, facing threats from groups like Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis, views India as a key partner in forming a broader regional forum. Meanwhile, India's abstention from certain UN resolutions on Gaza and its employment of Indian workers in Israel post-October 2023 underscore a pragmatic policy evolution since Modi's 2014 rise.

an Iranian diplomat remarked, capturing the sentiment from Tehran. This comes as India boosts economic links with Arab states and advocates for a negotiated Palestinian settlement, trying to juggle multiple fronts.

India's intensification of ties with Israel changes the diplomatic balance in a manner that will be perceived by Tehran to be negative to its own interests, potentially forcing Iran to reassess its strategic engagements in South Asia,

Yet, the partnership isn't without risks. Netanyahu's push for a "hexagon of alliances" involving India could draw New Delhi into Middle Eastern conflicts, something India has historically avoided. Experts note that while defence and tech deals benefit both sides, they might irk Iran, a vital supplier of oil and a partner in the Chabahar port project crucial for India's access to Afghanistan and Central Asia.

Implications for India's Middle East Balancing Act

India's foreign policy has long emphasized strategic autonomy, fostering ties across divides. It enjoys defence imports from Israel, energy from Iran, and massive trade with Gulf Arabs. The recent elevation with Israel, however, highlights a policy shift from strict neutrality toward deeper alignment with Jerusalem, driven by shared security concerns and technological synergies. This could enhance India's global standing but risks alienating Iran at a time when West Asian geopolitics churns with unpredictability, including U.S. policy under a potential Trump return.

For Israel, India's support is timely ahead of elections, helping counter Shia Iran and Sunni extremists. For India, it means advanced tech for its Make in India initiative and counter-terror edge. But Tehran worries this "special relationship" undermines mutual interests, possibly leading to cooler bilateral exchanges. Observers watch how New Delhi threads this needle, maintaining its multi-alignment ethos amid escalating rhetoric.

In summary, Iran's "unfortunate" label underscores the friction from India's Israel pivot, yet the partnership promises mutual gains in innovation and security. As tensions simmer, India's diplomatic finesse will be key to preserving its broad regional footprint without picking sides outright.