Iran: India's Gateway to Central Asia and the Middle East

India wants to expand its influence beyond South Asia, and to that end it has turned to a seemingly unlikely partner: Iran. But Iran may be a more logical choice than it would first appear. Beyond history and culture, the two share extensive energy ties. Iran is India's sixth largest supplier of oil, providing 250,000 barrels per day, roughly 6 percent of India's crude oil imports. Both have also been negotiating on various energy projects, including improvements to the Chabahar Port, which exemplifies India's desire to carve out a greater sphere of influence in Asia....