Zhang Jiadong, a Professor at the Center for American Studies, Fudan University, in an article published in Global Times on April 29, claimed that the U.S. announcement that it would not extend sanctions waivers for Iran oil importers "will highly likely affect US-India ties". Listing the adverse economic effects and that the "U.S. is unlikely to compensate India economically", he said "once India's economic interests are impaired, India-US relations are sure to be hurt". He added that "U.S. sanctions would severely stymie cooperation between India and Iran over the port of Chabahar" and "thwart US-India defense cooperation on Afghanistan as well as counter-terrorism efforts that started since the September 11 attacks". He suggested that "policy changes by the US on the Iran nuclear issue make India worried about Washington's real interests, long-term strategy and uncertainty in ties with the U.S". Zhang Jiadong claimed that "Many Indians believe that the US does not care for India's interests and strategy, but merely intends to use New Delhi to contain Beijing. They say India is a strategic pawn of the US but not an equal partner. There is resentment among certain Indians because the US has demanded that India cut ties with Iran, but keeps providing assistance to Pakistan without considering India's feelings". He asserted that "since last year, India has begun to distant itself from the US Indo-Pacific strategy and reverted to its strategic independence and autonomy. India's frosty relations with Russia and China have also improved. Probably, US-India relations will only be normal and sustainable under multilateral framework".
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