Dr. S Jaishankar with Hossein Amirabdollahian
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met with his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amirabdollahian on Monday, and the two leaders discussed how to strengthen bilateral relations while also reviewing regional and international trends.
Dr. Jaishankar began his visit to Iran by meeting the Iranian Minister of Roads and Urban Development Mehrdad Bazrpash, during which the two sides had a comprehensive and productive conversation about building a long-term cooperation framework for the strategically important Chabahar port.
External Affairs Minister also discussed the International North-South Transport Corridor with Bazrpash.
Dr. S Jaishankar tweeted, “Began my engagements in Tehran by meeting Minister of Roads and Urban Development @mehrdadbazrpash. Detailed and productive discussion on establishing a long-term cooperation framework concerning Chabahar port. Also exchanged views on the International North-South Transport Corridor”, through his official ‘X’ handle.
The Chabahar port, located in the Sistan-Balochistan province on the energy-rich Iran’s southern coast, is being developed by India and Iran to improve connectivity and trade connections.
India has pushed for the Chabahar port project to enhance regional trade, particularly its access to Afghanistan.
Dr. Jaishankar’s visit to Tehran coincides with increased worldwide fears over Houthi militants targeting cargo vessels in the Red Sea as part of the Israel-Hamas war.
The US and the UK have commenced air strikes against Houthi sites in Yemen.
India has been attentively observing the development of the Red Sea. On Thursday, Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed the issue over the phone.
The Indian Navy has already increased the deployment of its frontline ships and surveillance planes for maritime security operations in light of the maritime environment in the important sea lanes such as the North and Central Arabian Sea.
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