Amin Rezainejad said in an interview with the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations website: The Gaza war and its consequences have stopped the project of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). But this big project still has the ability to run its course because each of the actors in this project pursues goals during which IMEC remains attractive to them.

According to the expert, the US and EU by launching the MEC aim to bring India closer to them with the aim of checking China’s influence. On the other hand, this corridor helps India’s strategy to escape Beijing’s siege and possibly provide conditions to play a leadership role among developing countries. Also, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia have accepted IMEC as China’s complementary plan known as “One Road, One Belt” (BRI). And in line with their efforts to become an economic bridge between East and West. However, this project is generally more important for India, the United States, and Europe.

He added: “Part of the route of this project passes through the Occupied Territories, and IMEC can complement the Ibrahim project and help in the possible normalization of relations between the Arab countries of the Persian Gulf and the Zionist regime. From this point of view, although the war in Gaza will cause a delay in the implementation of this project, it will show the urgency of IMEC more, and the subsidence of the war in Gaza will speed up its process. As a result, in the future, we will see increased pressure from European countries and the United States to advance this plan.”

Rezainejad emphasized: “On the other hand, due to the isolation resulting from the BRI, India will continue to pursue the development of IMEC, and it sees no reason to abandon its biggest strategic plan, which means creating a breathing space for the future of this country because of the Gaza war. Also, for India, IMEC is a piece of a bigger puzzle, the other piece of which is the Asia-Africa Growth Corridor (AAGC); “The corridor is supposed to start from Japan and connect to the ports of Mumbai and Surat in western India, which are supposed to be the origin of IMEC.”

Pointing out that IMEC can have a double impact on the development of shipping in western India, he explained: “This can be the best reason for the participation of India’s western partners in securing this region, and it is no longer necessary for New Delhi to be alone with the risks of shipping in this region.” which can be created by Pakistan and Yemen. In simpler terms, IMEC can also play the role of an implicit security pact for India.”

At the same time, Rezainejad believes that the connection between AAGC and IMEC is strategically important for Europe and the United States because it simplifies confrontation with BRI and is considered an alternative path for Beijing’s hegemonic plan.

The expert said about the impact of the Gaza war on this project: “The Gaza war does not seem to be more than a temporary obstacle for IMEC Because in the end and with the worsening of the conditions in the Occupied Territories, this route has the capability of geopolitical changes and can easily open its way to Europe by eliminating Jordan and the Zionist regime and passing through Egypt.

He emphasized: “It seems that simply linking IMEC to the interests of the Zionist regime is a strategic blunder that occurred in the analytical environment inside the country, and we should not forget that to neutralize this plan and maintain Iran’s position at the global crossroads, serious and multilateral efforts are needed, which could not be explained in these few lines.”