Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi and Indian leadership have discussed economic and trade issues, including cooperation in developing Chabahar Port.
Takht-Ravanchi who was in New Delhi on a two-day official visit on January 2-3, within the framework of the 19th India-Iran Foreign Office Consultations (FOC), met his Indian counterpart Vikram Misri, according to the Iranian foreign ministry’s website.
The two sides exchanged views on all aspects of bilateral relations, including cooperation in the development of Chabahar Port in Iran's south-eastern Sistan-Baluchestan Province, agricultural cooperation, trade and economic issues.
The two ministers also discussed the 7,200-kilometre International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), a multimodal network of ship, rail, and road routes designed to facilitate freight movement between India, Iran, Azerbaijan, Russia, Central Asia, and Europe.
They reiterated their commitment to cooperating with multilateral international organizations, including the United Nations, BRICS, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).
Misri noted that the improvement of Chabahar Port will also pave the way for Afghanistan's reconstruction and economic development.
In May 2024, India signed a 10-year deal with Iran to operate the south-eastern port of Chabahar - a move that is expected to boost India’s links with Afghanistan and Central Asia.
Under the agreement, India Ports Global Limited will operationalize container terminals at Shahid Beheshti Terminal, one of the two key business hubs at the Chabahar port. The agreement was an updated version of an initial pact signed in 2016, which had been renewed annually since then.
Takht-Ravanchi also discussed important bilateral issues, and developments in Afghanistan, the Middle East and the Caucasus during a meeting with India's External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. The Iranian deputy minister also delivered speeches at two Indian research centers that play a "significant role" in shaping India's policies.
According to Hindustan Times, Ravanchi's visit was aimed at resuming Iranian crude oil imports, which Delhi halted in 2019 because of US sanctions. India was one of Iran's largest oil importers before the sanctions.
The talks also focused on exploring options for ramping up non-oil trade. India-Iran trade fell from $17 billion in 2018-2019 to $2.3 billion in 2022-2023. Other items on the agenda included improving connectivity and tourism, regional and international security.
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