India and Iran recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to streamline the transit of seafarers from both countries in accordance with the provisions of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) for Seafarers of 1978.
Understanding International Convention on STCW for Seafarers
The International Convention on STCW for Seafarers sets qualification standards for masters, officers, and watch personnel on seagoing merchant ships. Adopted in 1978 by a conference at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in London, the convention entered into force in 1984 and underwent significant amendments in 1995. The 1978 STCW Convention established the first basic requirements on training, certification, and watchkeeping for seafarers on an international level. It also stipulated minimum standards for seafarer training and certification, which countries are obliged to meet or surpass. Additionally, the Convention applies to ships of non-party States when visiting ports of State parties to the Convention.
A Glimpse of India-Iran Relations
India and Iran share a close bond, dating back to times of the Persian Empire and Indian kingdoms. The two countries were neighbors before India’s partition and independence in 1947. The “Tehran Declaration” signed during former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s visit to Iran recognized the shared vision of both countries for an “equitable, pluralistic, and cooperative international order”.
The Significance of India-Iran Relations
Iran’s strategic location between the Persian Gulf and the Caspian Sea makes it an important partner for India. It provides an alternate connectivity route to Afghanistan and Central Asian republics through the Chabahar Port, bypassing Pakistan’s land route. Also, as one of the world’s largest crude oil and natural gas deposit holders, Iran could be a significant source of cheaper crude oil for India. If India resumes oil imports from Iran, it could potentially lower global oil prices by encouraging other countries to follow suit.
Development in Connectivity with Eurasia
The International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) aims to connect India, Iran, Afghanistan, Russia, Central Asia, and Europe through multimodal transport, significantly reducing transit times. If sanctions on Iran are lifted, the full potential of INSTC could be realized, with India and Iran playing crucial roles in invigorating the corridor.
Energy Security and Future Cooperation
The Iran-Oman-India gas pipeline (IOI) is a long-delayed ambitious project. The recent deal between Iran and Oman to develop two gas pipelines and an oil field along their maritime borders brings hope for extending the pipeline to India, thereby securing natural gas supply. This can help overcome the loss of the failed Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) pipeline.
Going forward, greater convergence of mutual interests between India and Iran can potentially catalyze bilateral cooperation. India’s assertive diplomacy, emphasizing standing by its neighbors and fulfilling its national interests, if extended to engagement with Iran, can open significant cooperation opportunities between these nations. The time, therefore, seems ripe for a reset in the India-Iran relationship.
