A Comparative Study of the Opportunities and Threats of Indian and Russian Economic Projects in Central Asia for Iran

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Assistant Professor, Department of Global and Regional Politics, Faculty of Economics and Political Science, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran.

10.22067/irlip.2026.92087.1628
Abstract
The present study aims to conduct a comparative study of the opportunities and threats of Indian and Russian economic projects in Central Asia for Iran. Therefore, using thematic analysis and thematic matrix method through indirect observation (text analysis), research data were collected through existing texts using a purposive sampling method and through thematic coding the themes of the opportunities and threats of Indian and Russian economic projects in Central Asia for Iran were identified and finally compared and analyzed in terms of similarities and differences. The findings of the study showed that the commonality of the economic plans of India and Russia in Central Asia for Iran in terms of opportunities is to increase in the geopolitical importance of Iran and the expansion of relations with the countries involved in the aforementioned economic plans. Also, the difference between the economic plans of India and Russia in Central Asia for Iran in terms of threats is the negative political and economic consequences for Iran due to the implementation of Russian economic plans and the increase in the influence of regional and transregional powers in Central Asia and the decrease in Iran's influence in the region due to the implementation of Indian economic plans. To validate the qualitative findings, the audit and focus group method were used, and to assess its reliability, the repeatability and transferability or generalizability were used.

Keywords


[1] Brown, P. (2024). The North-South Transport Corridor: Strategic opportunities and challenges. Journal of International Trade and Economics, 62(2), 75-84.
[2] DaneshNia, F. (2011). Application of game theory and neoliberal institutionalism in analysing the behaviour of the main actors of the Gas OPEC. Political Science Research, 8(1). (In Persian)  DOI:10.4102/aej.v5i1.197
[3] Dmitrieva, Y. (2017). The Eurasian Economic Union: Formation, Development, and Significance. Institute of Management, Orenburg State University.
[4] Ekhtiyari Amiri, R.; Shafaqat-Nia Abad, R. (2023). India’s policy towards the Belt and Road Initiative. Iranian Journal of International Politics Research, 11(2). https://doi.org/10.22067/irlip.2022.72685.1157. https://doi.org/10.22067/irlip.2022.72685.1157 (In Persian)  
[5] Eslami, R. H.; Ansary Kargar, A.; Rahimi, A. (2025). Russia’s approach to the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan: Security and geopolitical interaction in light of the 2021 National Security Document. Iranian Journal of International Politics Research, 13(2). https://doi.org/10.22067/irlip.2025.91403.1608 (In Persian)  
[6] Faraji Rad, A. R.; Dowlatabadi, R. (2017). The importance of the role of energy in Russia’s foreign policy. Central Asia and Caucasus Studies Quarterly, 23(98). (In Persian).
[7]  Faraji Rad, A. R. (2015). Energy transmission pipelines to the Indian subcontinent and Iran’s national security. Iranian Journal of International Politics Research, 4(1), 81-109. https://doi.org/10.22067/jipr.v4i1.47324 (In Persian).
[8]  Ikenberry, G.J.; Lim, D. (2017). China’s Emerging Institutional Statecraft: The Asian Infrastrucutre Investment Bank and the Prospects for Counter-Hegemony. Brookings Institution
[9]  Janson, T. (2024). The geopolitical implications of the North-South Transport Corridor. Eurasian Economic Review, 55(3), 43-56.
[10] KarimiPour, D.; Niakoui, S. A. (2017). The role of energy diplomacy in foreign policy: A comparative study of Russia and Qatar. Strategic Political Research, 6(22). (In Persian). https://doi.org/10.22054/qpss.2017.13477.1389 (In Persian).
[11] Keohane, R.; Martin, L. (1995). The Promise of Institutionalist Theory. Interna tional Security, 20(1): 39-51. https://doi.org/10.2307/2539214
[12] Keohane, R. (1984). After Hegemony. Princeton: Princeton University Press. ISBN: 9780691122489.
[13] Mashouq, Z. (2021). An examination of the determinants of the nature of India–Pakistan relations. Scientific Monthly of Economic Security, 8(9).
[14] Mikhailov, P.; Taylor, R. (2024). Digitalization in pipeline management: Case studies from Russian projects. Journal of Energy Technology, 12(1), 34-49.
[15] Mirfakhraei, S. H. (2015). The Eurasian Economic Union and its geoeconomic implications for Iran. International Relations Studies,8(32),143-175. (In Persian). ISSN: 2423-4974.  
[16] mirTorabi Hosseini, S.; Khazaei, O. (2019). The role of diplomacy and Russia’s energy security strategy in Russian foreign policy (2000–2015). Political Strategy Quarterly, 3(8), 107-132. (In Persian) . 20.1001.1.25884565.1398.3.8.5.0
[17] Mollazehi, P.-M. (2014). The Islamic experience of power: A comparative examination of the three models of Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Iran. Neday-e Eslam International Quarterly, 15,57–58. (In Persian).
[18] Momeni, M. R.; Chaharmahali Esfahani, M. (2023). The position of Central Asia in India’s new foreign policy: Implications for Iran. Central Eurasia Studies Quarterly, 16(2). DOI:10.22059/JCEP.2024.341064.450067 (In Persian).
[19] Moradi, M. (2008). The role of India–Israel arms relations in regional geopolitics. Politics Quarterly, 38(4), 243-257. (In Persian).
[20] Omelicheva, M. (2018). Russia's Foreign Policy in Central Asia (Edited by Andrei P. Tsygankov). Milton Park: Routledge.
[21] Peyres, J. (2025). Russian energy transit: Strategic, economic, and technological perspectives. New York: Global Energy Press.
[22] Sajjadpour, S. M.; Pahlavani, M. (2012). The position of the Islamic Republic of Iran in India–United States relations. Iranian Journal of International Politics Research, 1(1). https://doi.org/10.22067/jipr.v1391i1.27019 (In Persian).
[23] Shafiei, N. (2017). US–India cooperation in the great power game in Central Asia. Central Eurasia Quarterly, 10(1). (In Persian).
[24] Smith, J. (2023). The geopolitics of energy: The impact of new gas pipelines on global energy markets. Energy Journal, 58(4), 110-125.
[25] Sopilko N.Yu., Shatalova I.I, Navrotskaia N.A. (2019) Integration potential for technological cooperation of the EAEU countries, Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research, volume 240, pp: 616-618(,(Available at:  https://www.researchgate.net/publication/331777444 Integration potential for technological cooperation of the EAEU countries),( Accessed on: 15/8/2021)
[26] Sarsenov, A. M. (2016). The legal basis for the creation of the Eurasian Economic Union. Scientific and Legal Journal “Bulletin of the Institute of Legislation and Legal Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan, 4(45), 149–155.
[27] Ulyanitsky, V. A. (2010). International Law (Instead of the Lithographed Edition of Lectures). Tomsk, 1911. In Golden Fund of Russian Scholarship in International Law, Vol. 3. Moscow: International Relations, p. 55. (Accessed: 23 July 2021).
[28] Vinokurov, E. (2017). Eurasian Economic Union: Current state and preliminary results, Russian. Journal of Economics 3 (1), 54-70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ruje.2017.02.004
[29] Yazdani, E., et al. (2016). The role of Russia and China in the transition of the international system from unipolarity to multipolarity. Political Studies Quarterly, 9(36). (In Persian).
[30] Zakharov, A.; Gennadyevna Posokhina, A.; Alekseevich Polyakov, V. (2018). Foreign Trade between India and the Central Asian Countries. Russian Foreign Economic Bulletin, 12, 85-97.
[31] Zarghani, S. H., & Ahmadi, E. (2016). A geopolitical analysis of Iran–India relations within the framework of interdependencies. Iranian Journal of International Politics Research, 3(2). (In Persian). https://doi.org/10.22067/jipr.v4i2.51285 (In Persian).
Send comment about this article
Enter Name.
Enter a valid email address.
Enter a vaid affiliation.
Enter comments (At leaset 10 words)
CAPTCHA Image
Enter Security Code Correctly.
Volume 14, Issue 2 - Serial Number 28
September 2026
Pages 268-304

  • Receive Date 11 February 2025
  • Revise Date 13 July 2025
  • Accept Date 24 August 2026