PM Modi holds talks with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met the Iranian President Dr. Hassan Rouhani on the sidelines of the High-Level Segment of the 74th Session of United Nations General Assembly in New York yesterday. The two leaders discussed bilateral relations and exchanged views on regional and global developments of mutual interest.

According to an official press release, the Prime Minister reiterated India's support for giving priority to diplomacy, dialogue and confidence-building in the interest of maintaining peace, security and stability in the Gulf region, which is of vital importance for India.

External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said, the two leaders discussed bilateral cooperation and exchanged views on the situation in the region. Noting that India and Iran shared old and civilizational ties, the two leaders assessed the progress in bilateral relations since their first meeting in Russian city of Ufa in 2015.

They especially mentioned overcapitalization of Chabahar



Port and noted its importance as gateway to and for landlocked Afghanistan and the Central Asian region. During the meeting, it was agreed to mark the 70th Anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations in 2020.

Indo-Iran ties have been on an upswing in the past few years. Mr. Modi visited Tehran in May 2016. During the visit, India and Iran signed nearly a dozen agreements, centrepiece of which was a deal on development of the strategic Chabahar port.

Later, India, Iran and Afghanistan signed a trilateral agreement providing for transport of goods among the three countries through the port. In February 2018, Mr. Rouhani visited India, becoming the first Iranian President to visit India in a decade. During his visit, the two sides signed a dozen agreements. 

Prime Minister Modi also met Cyprus President, Nicos Anastasiades and Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis on the sidelines of the session of UN General Assembly.