Deepika Saraswat

Associate Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr Deepika Saraswat’s opinion piece 'The US challenge to India’s ties with Iran’ has been published in ‘The Round Table’, the Commonwealth Journal of International Affairs, on 12 December, 2022.

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• Published: 12 December, 2022

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.

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• Published: 22 November, 2022

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.

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• Published: 3 October, 2022

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.

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• Published: 30 September, 2022

Iran is focussing its diplomatic energies on advancing its ‘neighbourhood policy’ and long-term cooperation with China and Russia.

• Published: July 29, 2022
• IDSA Comments

Iran has seen a sudden rise in its importance as a transit and transport hub connecting China and Central Asia to Europe, and also Russia with India.

• Published: July 19, 2022
• Issue Brief

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.

Iran as a key geopolitical actor in West Asia has not only endured decades of US security and economic pressure, it has also cultivated geopolitical influence in Iraq, Syria and elsewhere in the region. Iran’s geoeconomic strategy therefore is to leverage this geopolitical influence to advance Iran’s position in the region-wide energy and infrastructure connectivity, says Dr Saraswat.

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• Published: 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.

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• Published: 17 June, 2022

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.

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• Published: 28 March, 2022

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.

• Published: February 24, 2022
• Issue Brief