The eight-year-long Iran – Iraq War caused a steep decline in trade and commerce between the two nations . During the 1991 Persian Gulf War , India was opposed to the use of force against Iraq . India stopped the refueling of military planes after the second week of war in 1991 . Iraq had been one of India 's largest export markets before the 1991 gulf war . It opposed UN sanctions on Iraq , but the period of war and Iraq 's isolation further diminished India 's commercial and diplomatic ties . Iraq had supported India 's right to conduct nuclear tests following its tests of five nuclear weapons on May 11 and May 13 , 1998 . In 2000 , the then-Vice President of Iraq Taha Yassin Ramadan visited India , and on August 6 , 2002 President Saddam Hussein conveyed Iraq 's " unwavering support " to India over the Kashmir dispute with Pakistan . India and Iraq established joint ministerial committees and trade delegations to promote extensive bilateral co-operation
tests of five nuclear weapons
Pokhran-II
India–Iraq relations