Wed Mar 19 17:58:31 UTC 2025: ## Iran Condemns India-Israel Economic Corridor as “Political Project”
**New Delhi, March 20, 2025** – Iran has denounced the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) as a politically motivated project aimed at excluding regional stakeholders, a senior Iranian official stated yesterday. The official expressed concern over the slow progress of India’s involvement in the Chabahar port and warned that any cooperation with Israel that poses an “existential threat” to Iran would be considered a “red line.”
Launched last September during the G20 summit, the IMEC, which aims to connect India to Europe via Israeli ports and the UAE, has faced criticism since Israel’s involvement in the conflict with Hamas. Despite this, India has continued to promote the corridor, as evidenced by Prime Minister Modi’s recent trip to France, where President Macron highlighted Marseilles as a key component of the planned route.
The Iranian official criticized the IMEC for neglecting regional history and culture in favor of geopolitical strategies. They also highlighted the ongoing conflict in Yemen, defending the Houthi rebels against accusations of cruelty, using the case of an Indian nurse who was spared a death sentence in Yemen to contrast with the UAE’s recent execution of two Indian nationals.
Further, the official expressed concern over the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), a group active in both Pakistan and Iran’s Sistan-Balochistan province. They acknowledged the challenges faced by Iran due to its numerous neighbors and the proximity of numerous US military bases. However, they also expressed openness to diplomatic solutions, stating that a response to a recent US diplomatic overture is forthcoming. The official’s statements underscore rising tensions in the region stemming from the IMEC project and broader geopolitical concerns.
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