Iranian President Hassan Rouhani says Tehran will "seriously"pursue the implementation of a joint project with India on the development of Irans southeastern port of Chabahar.
The Iranian president made the remark during a Wednesday telephone conversation with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Irans Chabahar port, which connects different regional countries, including India, Afghanistanand [those in] Central Asia to one another, is one of the symbols of Tehran-New Delhi cooperation, Rouhani said.
Describing as successful a recent visit by the Indian premier to Iran, Rouhani underlined the need for the immediate implementation of the agreements signed between Tehran and New Delhi, particularly on the development of Chabahar port.
The Iranian president also referred to various issues of mutual interestand expressed Tehrans readiness to upgrade ties with New Delhi to a strategic level.
In the phone conversation, Modi said that his country is determined to boost cooperation with Iran in all sectors.
He described as positive his talks with Iranian officials during his visit to Iran in May, adding thatIndia will do its utmost to speed up the implementation of bilateralagreements.
The Indian prime minister alsoofficially invited Rouhani to visit India.
Agreement on development of Chabahar port
The Indian prime minister paid an official two-day visit to Iran on May 22to boost economic and political ties with Tehran.
Concurrent with Modi visit, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani also traveled to Iran to join the signing of a trilateral agreement on establishinga strategic transit and transportroute connecting the three countries.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="555"]
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani (R), Iranian President Hassan Rouhani (C), and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hold hands in a show of solidarity after their trilateral meeting and signing of the Chabahar agreement, at the Sadabad Palace in Tehran, Iran, May 23, 2016. President.ir[/caption]The deal to develop Chabahar was part of a series of agreements that India and Iran signed to increase cooperation in various areas.
The Chabahar agreement is expected to create a regional trade, investment and transportation hub with links from the Indian Ocean to Central Asia.
In 2003, Iran and India agreed todevelop the port,which sits on the Gulf of Oman. The project was, however, suspended followingthe imposition ofsanctions againstIran over Tehrans nuclear program.
In May 2014, India and Iran signed amemorandum of understandingtojointly develop the port once the international sanctions againstIran were lifted.
Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany reached an agreement on the Iranian nuclear program on July 14, 2015, under which Iran has committed to putting limitations on its nuclear work in exchange for the removal of sanctions.
The Chabahar route will allow Indian goods to reach Afghanistan via the Iranian port without crossing Pakistans territory.
By Press TV
