The full range of relations between India and Iran was reviewed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he had bilateral talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in the Russian city of Kazan. "Had a very good meeting with the President of Iran, Masoud Pezeshkian. We reviewed the full range of relations between our countries.". We also discussed ways to deepen ties in futuristic sectors, PM Modi wrote on X.
This was the first bilateral meeting between PM Modi and Pezeshkian, who took charge as President of Iran in July following ex-President Ebrahim Raisi's death in a helicopter crash on May 19. In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that PM Modi congratulated Pezeshkian on his election as the 9th President of Iran. "He also welcomed Iran into the BRICS family.".
The two leaders reviewed bilateral relations and discussed ways to further strengthen cooperation in various fields. "The two leaders reaffirmed the importance of the long-term contract of Chabahar Port, an important milestone in bilateral relations that is significant for reconstruction and redevelopment of Afghanistan and enhancing trade and economic linkages with Central Asia," the MEA statement read. It also said that both leaders discussed regional developments, including the situation in West Asia.
PM Modi expressed deep concern over the widening of the conflict and reiterated India's call to de-escalate the situation. The Prime Minister also emphasized the protection of civilians and the role of diplomacy in resolving the conflict," it read. Both leaders agreed to continue their cooperation in various multilateral forums, including BRICS and SCO.".
The Prime Minister extended an invitation to President Pezeshkian to visit India at the earliest. President Pezeshkian has accepted the invitation," said the statement. Earlier, on July 30, Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari represented India in Pezeshkian's swearing-in ceremony, held in Tehran. The BRICS alliance, an intergovernmental organisation comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa added four new members Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates – on January 1, 2024.
It was also during India's presidency that Iran joined the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). India-Iran partnership in various sectors, especially connectivity, happened galore during the tenure of Iran's late President Raisi. The infrastructure cooperation between the two countries was moving forward very fast, specially focusing on the Chabahar project and the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) – the 7,200-km-long multimodal trade corridor linking Russia with India via the ports of Iran.
India and Iran have entered into a 10-year joint operating agreement at Chabahar Port. The deal was signed on May 13, barely days ahead of Raisi's death. In the morning of the day, as soon as PM Modi arrived at Kazan, he held a bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
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