Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to meet US President Barack Obama in Washington next month and he will also enjoy the rare honour of addressing both houses of the US Congress. President Rouhani will host a lunch in honour of Prime Minister Modi.
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Delegation-level talks followed, leading to the signing of agreements on the development of the Chabahar port on the southern coast of Iran, the setting up of an aluminium smelter plant and a rail line. India will both build and run its unit at the Chabahar port, which will help it to gain a foothold in the region while also providing it access to Central Asia and Afghanistan.
“The two countries’ economic relations could be much broader than the past, and today the administrative officials of the two countries decided that the bilateral ties turn into comprehensive economic relations from mutual trade ties”, Rouhani told the press conference.
Modi will also hold talks with the country’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Hosseini Khamenei.
On Sunday, PM Narendra Modi offered prayers at Bhai Ganga Singh Sabha Gurudwara in Tehran.
Modi said that priority would be given to enhancing connectivity, trade, investments, energy partnership, culture and people-to-people contacts. He was welcomed by Iran’s Economy Minister Ali Tayebnia at Tehran’s Mehrabad Airport. “The trilateral agreement will be a game changer for regional connectivity especially for Afghanistan which can find an assured and reliable alternate access to India via sea”, Baglay said.
India has “shared interest” in peace and prosperity of the region, Mr Modi said, adding that combating the menace of worldwide terrorism and radical ideologies is a common challenge.”Taking concrete steps for enhancing regional connectivity is one of the most important and promising dimensions of the growing cooperation between our two countries”, Mr Modi said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that India and Iran are not new friends.
Since India has made much advancement in the new and high technologies, such as ICT, biotechnology, nanotechnology and aerospace, the two countries also chose to boost their scientific relations, added Rouhani.
India is also looking to import more oil from Iran and develop a gas field there.
“For me, visiting Iran is indeed a great privilege”.
About a fifth of the oil consumed worldwide each day passes through the Strait of Hormuz, a shipping choke point that separates the Persian Gulf from the Gulf of Oman and Indian Ocean.
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Also, discussions would feature mode of clearance of the United States dollars 6.4 billion Indian refiners like Essar Oil and MRPL owe to Iran in past oil dues.
