In Tehran, EAM Jaishankar engages in 'productive' talks with Iranian urban development minister
| 2024-01-15
India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar meets Iran’s Minister of Roads and Urban Development Mehrdad Bazrpash .
The visit comes amidst escalating tensions in the Red Sea and Arabian Sea region with Houthi militants targeting merchant vessels
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar initiated his two-day visit to Iran with a meeting with Minister of Roads and Urban Development Mehrdad Bazrpash on Monday (January 15, 2024). The talks focused on the development of a long-term cooperation framework for the Chabahar port, a strategic asset in the Sistan-Balochistan province on Iran's southern coast.
Key Discussion Points: Chabahar Port and INSTC
The ongoing dialogue centred around the Chabahar port, a joint venture by India and Iran, aimed at enhancing connectivity and trade. Minister Jaishankar expressed the productive nature of the discussions in a post on social media platform X, noting the detailed conversation on the Chabahar port and the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC).
“Began my engagements in Tehran by meeting Minister of Roads and Urban Development @merhdadbazrpash. Detailed and productive discussion on establishing a long-term cooperation framework with respect to Chabahar port. Also exchanged views on the International North-South Transport Corridor,” he said.
India views the Chabahar port as a pivotal gateway for regional trade, especially for access to Afghanistan and the Central Asian region. In 2021, during a connectivity conference in Tashkent, EAM Jaishankar highlighted the port's significance as a regional transit hub. The port also plays a crucial role in the INSTC project, a 7,200-km-long multi-modal transport network facilitating freight movement across India, Iran, Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Central Asia, and Europe.
Bilateral and Regional Security Concerns
The visit comes amidst escalating tensions in the Red Sea and Arabian Sea region, with the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict and Houthi militants targeting merchant vessels, including those headed to Indian ports. These developments have sparked international concern, with the United States and the United Kingdom conducting airstrikes against Houthi positions in Yemen. EAM Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently discussed the situation, underscoring India's increased maritime security measures in the Arabian Sea.
During his two-day visit, EAM Jaishankar is scheduled to meet Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian to discuss various bilateral, regional, and global issues. The talks are expected to include deliberations on enhancing regional connectivity through the Chabahar port.
This visit embosses the ongoing high-level exchanges between India and Iran, emphasizing political collaboration, connectivity initiatives, and strong people-to-people ties. The discussions are likely to influence future diplomatic and trade relationships, particularly in light of the current geopolitical landscape.
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