India, Iran brighten smile despite American frown

While China seeks to become the world's newest superpower, Iran has made its goal to be the dominant and guiding power of the Middle Eastern/Central Asian region. Iran is seeking nuclear missiles for the same reason North Korea won't give up theirs; the lesson the world has taught the Third World is that if you got bombs, the US will talk to you, if you don't, you'll become Iraq circa 1991 - Present.

Having said that, the below article is just one example of how centers of power are shifting in the world and in some ways, the US is powerless to stop it. There are countries that plainly do not see Iran as a threat to them and therefore are willing to pen deals with them, such as India. It's no wonder that there's another article floating around today saying that Iran is shrugging off the threat of UN sanctions. I would too if were the Iranians. Any country that chooses not to do business with Tehran only makes room for those that have no issue with dictatorial regimes. Those regimes far outnumber the liberal democracies and that's a crying shame in itself.

I don't think this current administration really understands just how much the world has changed and they seem completely unprepared to deal in the new global reality. That's pretty sad, all things considered.

Here's the article:

The visit by External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh to Iran has sent a clear message to the world about New Delhi's resolve to deepen its strategic and cultural ties with Tehran despite the American frown.

"I am happy with the visit. We are committed to continuing and expanding relationship with Iran, which is an important country for us," Natwar Singh said while returning from Shiraz, the ancient Persian city he visited on Sunday, marking the end of a three-day visit to Iran.

Natwar Singh's visit was astutely timed -- it was the first high-level trip to Tehran by a minister from a non-Muslim country ever since the new regime of hardliners headed by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad took charge in Iran.

The timing was also significant in as much as the visit took place at a time when Iran is increasingly becoming a pariah state in the eyes of the West, which is accusing Tehran of enriching uranium to produce nuclear weapons.

It may be a coincidence but the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report asking Iran to be more transparent was released on Saturday when Natwar Singh was holding discussions with Ahmadinejad, the India-educated Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki and chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani.

Later in the day, India repeated its support for Iran's peaceful nuclear energy programme within the framework of its international obligations and commitments.

Reassertion of support for its nuclear programme by New Delhi clearly means a lot to Tehran, which has been trying to move beyond its current EU negotiators -- Britain, France and Germany -- to include other countries in its future nuclear negotiations.

Iranian diplomats have broadly hinted at involving the UN in these negotiations, but New Delhi is yet to confirm these overtures.

"The visit to Iran was timely and showed our commitment to continuing with a relationship that is critically important for our energy needs and national security," Hamid Ansari, a former ambassador to Iran, said.

Added Pushpesh Pant, a professor of diplomacy at the Jawaharlal Nehru University here: "By this important and timely visit, India has sent a message to the world that we have an independent foreign policy and that we can stand up to American pressure on crucial areas of national interest."

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