The continuing American sanctions against Iran stand to affect the India-US relationship, given New Delhi's investments in the port of Chabahar as well as prospects of resumption of energy imports from Tehran.
"The ongoing US sanctions against Iran, particularly under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) provision, will continue to be a major irritant in Indo-US relationship," Ambassador Anil Trigunayat, a former Indian envoy to Jordan, Libya and Malta, told Sputnik India.
The extensive US sanctions against Iran target its energy, banking, shipping, construction, mining, manufacturing and defence sectors, in turn also threatning foreign investments.
Before former President Donald Trump unilaterally pulled the US out of Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2018 and re-imposed sanctions on Tehran. Before that, Iran ranked among the biggest suppliers of crude to India.
New Delhi's plans to seek investments in the Chabahar port, which it views as an important node in the International North South Transport Corridor (INSTC), have also suffered due to US sanctions as private players remain wary of attracting American sanctions.
US Tries to Reinforce its Global Hegemony
Brigadier (retired) V Mahalingam, a geopolitical expert and an Indian Army veteran, stressed that the US didn't want any country in the world, including its closest allies in Europe, to prosper beyond a point by sourcing energy supplies from sources such as Iran or Russia.
"Let me make it clear, US will not allow any country to prosper beyond a level that will affect its larger aim of global hegemony. No country including India will be spared from this US strategy. The world needs to get together to find a way out of this trap," Mahalingam told Sputnik India, explaining the broader logic of American sanctions.
He underlined that Europe's economy had "already been cut to size" through its involvement in the US-fuelled Ukraine conflict.
INSTC in Global Interest: Navy Veteran
Commodore (retired) Seshadri Vasan, the Regional Director of National Maritime Foundation (NMF), told Sputnik India that the 7,200-kilometre INSTC, connecting India and other southeast Asian states to Central Asia and beyond should be viewed as an "alternative" to the 'Silk Road'.
"The US should realise that having an alternative to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is in its interest and larger global interest," Vasan said.
He expressed hope that the US would not sanction non-arms trade to and from Iran, against the backdrop of India-backed projects in the country.