New Delhi : Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif today met Prime Minister Narendra Modi who affirmed India’s commitment to work with Tehran for the development of Chabahar Port that is expected to have far-reaching benefits for India, Iran and the entire Central Asian region.
India has pledged to invest about $85 million in developing the strategic port, located on Iran’s southeastern coast, which would provide India a sea-land access route to Afghanistan bypassing Pakistan.
During the meeting, Zarif, the first key minister of Iran to come here after the historic nuclear pact between Tehran and Western countries in July which will lead to lifting of sanctions, said Iran considered India its “strategic partner”.
Zarif, who arrived here last night, also held talks with his Indian counterpart, Sushma Swaraj, who raised the issue of nine Indian sailors detained in Iran and requested him for waiver of $2.9 million fine imposed on them and for their early release. These Indians, who were part of a shipping crew, have been in a jail in Iran for two years on charges of smuggling oil.
Recalling his meeting with President Hassan Rouhani in Ufa last month, Modi reiterated that India attached high priority to its relations with Iran. During his meeting with Modi, Rouhani had sought Indian investments of nearly $8 billion in infrastructure sector in Iran. — PTI
