Indian Foreign Minister makes unannounced visit to Iran

Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj met her Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif in Tehran on December 2 to discuss issues of mutual concern.

Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif. (Source: thehindu.com)

Ms. Swaraj stopped in Tehran on her way back from the Russian coastal city of Sochi after attending the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of Heads of Government (Prime Ministers) Meeting.

On Twitter, Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said the meeting between the two ministers was aimed at strengthening traditional and close civilizational links. The two ministers reviewed the implementation of the Chabahar port project in Iran, in which India is a key partner.

Last month, India shipped its first consignment of wheat to Afghanistan by sea through Chabahar port. This is seen as a major step towards operationalizing a new strategic India-Iran-Afghanistan trilateral transit route bypassing Pakistan, which will help boost trade between the three countries.

Besides bilateral issues, Swaraj and Zarif also discussed the regional situation and political developments in the Gulf. India is looking to enhance its cooperation with Iran by increasing its oil and gas imports from Tehran. This issue was also raised by the two ministers.

Ms. Swaraj visited Iran in April last year, during which the two sides decided to significantly expand bilateral relations, especially promoting Indian investment in joint ventures in the oil and gas sector./.

According to Vietnam+