Why India refused to join SCO condemnation of Israel’s attacks on Iran | Israel-Iran conflict News

New Delhi, India – India has moved away from the condemnation of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) (SCO) of Israel’s current attacks against Iran, signaling a potential flaw in the Eurasian political bloc influential on the conflict.

World leaders have repeatedly called upon a de -escalation in the midst of Israel’s unprecedented attacks on its regional rival, Iran, which threatens to destabilize the region. Last Friday, the latest series of fighting began after Israel launched attacks on Iranian military and nuclear sites.

This follows two cycles of direct military conflict between Iran and Israel in 2024, which were triggered by Israeli strikes on Iranian targets and Iranian reprisals that followed.

Iranian authorities claim that Israeli attacks since Friday have targeted residential and military areas in Tehran as well as many cities across the country, killing at least 80 people, including civilians. Several Iranian nuclear scientists and university professors were killed with Several first -row commanders Iranian armed forces and the body of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard (IRGC).

The Israeli attacks struck refineries, power plants and oil reserves across Iran on Saturday. Tehran retaliated by launching hundreds of missiles and drones in Israeli cities of Tel Aviv and Haifakilling at least 13 people and injuring dozens. Meanwhile, Tehran also interrupted nuclear negotiations with the United States.

So why has India refused to participate in the discussions or approve the position of the OCS on Israel’s attacks? Does India support Israel? And what’s at stake for these countries?

What does the SCO say?

The SCO, a political and security block founded in 2001, includes China, Belarus, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tadjikistan and Uzbekistan. Iran is the most recent participant, having joined the SCO under the chairmanship of India in 2023.

On Saturday, the SCO, currently chaired by China, said its member states “express a serious concern” concerning the escalation of Irano-Israeli tensions and “strongly condemn the military strikes carried out by Israel” on the territory of Iran.

The OCS press release also noted that the “aggressive actions of Israel against civil targets, including energy and transport infrastructure, which led to civilian victims, constitute a gross violation of international law and the Charter of the United Nations”.

“”[Israeli attacks] constitute a violation of Iran’s sovereignty, damaging regional and international security and have serious risks to world peace and stability, “added the press release, extending condolences to the Iranian government and the people.

“The OCS member states firmly argue for the resolution of the situation surrounding the Iranian nuclear program exclusively by peaceful, political and diplomatic means,” the press release noted.

“Delicate balancing law of India”

After the first strikes of Israel in Tehran, the Indian Minister of External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar held a telephone conversation with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, in which he “had the deep concern of the international community fears at the end of the events”.

Jaishankar “urged the avoidance of any climbing stage and an early return to diplomacy,” according to the Ministry of India from external affairs. Friday, the ministry also underlined its concerns in a separate declaration.

“We closely monitor the evolving situation, including reports against nuclear sites”, the Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs saidUndering the two parties to use the existing dialogue and diplomacy channels to “work towards a de -escalation of the situation”.

“India benefits from close and friendly relations with the two countries and is ready to extend any possible support,” the press release noted.

Shanthie d’ouza, principal researcher at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, told Al Jazeera: “Unlike other SCO nations, India is in a unique position since it must maintain defense ties with Israel and its economic ties with Iran.”

India is the largest arms buyer in Israel and, in 2024, Indian arms companies also sold Israel rockets and explosives in the middle of the war in Gaza, a Al Jazeera investigation revealed. At the same time, India has developed the port of Iranian Chabahar as a gateway for its exports to Central Asia and Afghanistan.

“India has maintained a delicate balancing [in the latest round of fighting between Israel and Iran]”Said Souza.

After the OCS declaration condemns Israeli strikes on Iran, New Delhi said that she had not participated in discussions on the declaration.

“The overall position of India, as indicated above, was communicated to other members of the OCS”, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs saidReferring to his previous declaration for the official position of India.

Does India support Israel?

Not explicitly. But by distancing itself from the position of the block, New Delhi weakened the strength of the OCO condemnation of the attacks of Israel against Iran.

One day before distorting the OCS Declaration, India refrained from voting to the United Nations General Assembly on a draft resolution which required a “immediate, unconditional and permanent” ceasefire in Gaza.

In Kabir Taneja, deputy director of the New Delhi strategic study program, the research observer, India’s abstention at the UN was perplexed. He suggested that this could have been influenced by India’s desire to maintain good relations with the United States, noting how India is close to a trade agreement with Washington – an agreement he tries to win before the 27% threatened price of 27% of 27% of Indian products was lifted in early July.

Aside from national interests, Taneja noted that the distancing of New Delhi of the OCS on Israeli-Iranian tensions “also reflects on the construction of the OCS, where India is in a way an aberrant value inside”.

While China and Russia are close to Iran, said Taneja, given India relations with the United States and Israel, “it would have been very difficult [for India] To subscribe to the specific formulation and declaration of SCO ”.

Did the American pressure on Iran threaten the regional ambitions of India?

Before Trump imposed sanctions following the US withdrawal from the Iranian nuclear agreement in 2017, Iran was the third oil supplier in India.

In February, after Trump’s return for a second term, he doubled economic pressure tactics to wedge Iran by suspending derogation of sanctions “This provides Iran with any degree of economic or financial relief, including those related to the Iranian Chabahar port project”.

The port would allow India to bypass its rival, Pakistan, by exchanging with Afghanistan and Central Asia via Iran. India had renounced the United States sanctions in the first Trump administration for work-related work.

Now Trump’s sanctions have endangered the investment of New Delhi’s several million dollars in the strategically located maritime installation.

But India’s interest in maintaining solid links with Iran goes beyond the simple port project. Taneja noted that India values ​​the geographic position of Iran because it gives it access to Afghanistan and Central Asia – important regions for the trade, security and influence of India.