New Delhi, May 15: India and Iran on Wednesday agreed to expand cooperation in the economic, political and energy sectors, saying continued dialogue is important for securing common interests and strengthening regional stability and security.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who was in New Delhi in connection with the BRICS foreign ministers’ meeting, held wide-ranging discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval on the current security scenario in the Gulf and matters of mutual interest.
Mr Araghchi also met Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the sidelines of the meeting and apprised him of Iran’s position on the Strait of Hormuz and the ongoing peace negotiations with the United States.
The BRICS foreign ministers exchanged views on bilateral relations, regional developments and multilateral cooperation during the meeting in New Delhi.
Araghchi thanked India for hosting the BRICS foreign ministers’ meeting and said “very good discussions and meetings” had taken place during the event, according to Iran’s Tasnim News Agency.
The Iranian foreign minister, during his meeting with Jaishankar, further apprised him of the latest developments following the 40-day conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel, and the course of negotiations related to ending the war.
Referring to the historic and friendly ties between Tehran and New Delhi, Araghchi described continued consultations and close cooperation between the two countries as important for securing common interests and strengthening regional stability and security.
He stressed the need for effective action by the international community to stop the conflicts and prevent the spread of instability in the region.
During his meeting with NSA Ajit Doval, Araghchi expressed concern over the continuing tensions and conflict in the region and emphasized the importance of preserving regional stability and security.
He also conveyed India’s readiness to help restore security in the region and support efforts aimed at ending the conflict.
