TEHRAN – In his commentary, Mr. Sharg analyzed major oil and gas transactions between India and the United States.
“India, the world’s third-largest oil importer and fourth-largest economy, has turned in favor of the United States,” the magazine wrote. Earlier this year, India resumed imports of Iranian crude oil for the first time in seven years, but the situation now appears to be changing. India has signed a major contract with the US for the import of liquefied natural gas. There are practical policies behind this commercial shift. The Trump administration has encouraged India to reduce its purchases of Russian crude oil while paving the way for U.S. LNG exports to India. The deal will provide New Delhi with reduced tariff pressure and access to cleaner, cheaper fuels. Energy expert Morteza Behrjifar said it was a mistake to assume from the beginning that India would lean towards Iranian and Russian oil markets. India has extensive trade with the United States and is a long-time ally. Not only India, but also the Arab states of the Persian Gulf prefer doing business with the United States rather than going to Russia or Iran, as the economic and commercial interests with the world’s largest economy are far greater. India’s temporary efforts to solve its oil import challenges should not be mistaken for a stable market for Iran.
Kayhan: Iran, the region’s unparalleled power
After the 12-day war, the Islamic Republic of Iran has not only taken a resolute stance against the military threats of Israel and the United States, but has also accelerated its path to becoming a decisive regional power through military expansion, technological advances, and socio-economic development programs. Despite severe economic pressure from sanctions, inflation, and drought, Iran has shown determination to pursue development and has emerged as a manufacturing powerhouse. These advances have strengthened domestic confidence and strengthened Iran’s ability to withstand economic pressure, military threats, and hostile media campaigns. The United States and Europe now face new challenges that Iran has overcome by relying on its domestic strength, regional networks, and transparent communication. The Zionist regime and its allies sought to weaken Iran through psychological operations and economic pressure, but Iran’s cyber, media, and active deterrence capabilities thwarted these efforts. Although the threat remains, Iran is now a major power. Its unparalleled strength in West Asia serves as a significant deterrent, and any offensive action against it will have significant costs and consequences.
Mr. Etelert: Taking diplomacy seriously
International affairs analyst Seyyed Jalal Sadatian spoke to Etterat newspaper about the upcoming IAEA board meeting and a possible decision on Iran. Sadatian said the dialogue between Iran, the US and the European troika appears to go beyond the realm of diplomacy. European countries are working fully with the United States to document their positions and pass new resolutions against Iran. Unfortunately, these anti-Iranian efforts are taking place at a time when no serious action is being taken domestically. To avert the current crisis, Iran’s governing system must mobilize its domestic diplomatic capacity and make talks and “engagement with the West” a reality, so that Western media campaigns no longer limit Iran’s territory. Ignoring dialogue with other countries will ultimately lead to further suspicion of Iran by the West and the United States, which will result in more restrictions imposed by Western-led organizations and a more negative international perception of Iran. Therefore, Iran must take clarifications from international organizations seriously and ensure that even if there are no results, world opinion at least recognizes the unwarranted threat against Iran.
Khorasan: Diplomatic window half open
In his article, Khorasan wrote about the US call for renegotiation with Iran. The newspaper said there are again signs that the United States is moving toward dialogue with Iran, amid occasional tensions in the region. These signs do not reflect reconciliation or a return to a normal diplomatic path, but rather the existence of a “half-open window.” According to Araghchi, Iran will not enter a path where imposition and command are substituted for dialogue and mutual respect. Strategically, this half-open window could serve as a tool to demonstrate Iran’s political maturity and bargaining power. This is an opportunity for the Iranian government to show that it is willing to negotiate, but not to back down. This situation sends a clear message to regional and international stakeholders. Iran remains an active player capable of managing both the battlefield and diplomacy at the same time. This window could close quickly if the United States does not clearly respond to Iran’s demands and messages. And if the negotiations take on an “imposed” nature, they will be removed from the Iranian government’s agenda altogether.