Foreign ministers of Iran, India discuss trade ties, major regional issues: FM Zarif

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says he exchanged views with his visiting Indian counterpart about ways to expand bilateral relations, particularly in the trade arena, and the important issues facing the region.

In a post on his Twitter account on Tuesday, Zarif said he was pleased to host Indian Minister of External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar in Tehran for talks.

Pleased to host my Indian counterpart @DrSJaishankar in Tehran for talks today.

Discussed expansion of bilateral relations and trade, and exchanged views on important regional issues.

Our active engagement with our neighborhood is our top priority. pic.twitter.com/03F8F9VBdb— Javad Zarif (@JZarif) September 8, 2021

“Our active engagement with our neighborhood is our top priority,” the top Iranian diplomat pointed out.

Jaishankar made a stopover in Tehran on Tuesday on his way to Russia for a meeting of the foreign ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

The Indian foreign minister described as “productive” the meeting with his Iranian counterpart in Tehran and thanked Zarif for his “gracious hospitality.”

A productive meeting with FM @JZarif during a stopover in Tehran. Discussed strengthening our bilateral cooperation and reviewed regional developments. Thank him for his gracious hospitality. pic.twitter.com/Ec9sqO5I6U— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) September 8, 2021

Jaishankar tweeted that the two sides “discussed strengthening our bilateral cooperation and reviewed regional developments.”

Jaishankar is the second senior Indian official to visit Iran in less than a week.

On Sunday, Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh visited Tehran, where he held “very fruitful” talks his Iranian counterpart Brigadier General Amir Hatami.

India is seeking to work more closely with Iran to increase the economic viability of the strategic Chabahar port and to facilitate trade access to Afghanistan and other Central Asia nations as well as Russia.

In December 2019, Iran and India agreed to speed up the development of Chabahar port which New Delhi views as a gateway to access Afghanistan and Central Asia.

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