During the 19th round of Foreign Office Consultations, which took place in New Delhi on January 3, 2025, India and Iran recently discussed the expansion of the Chabahar port and the improvement of their trade relations. Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht Ravanchi led the discussions, which focused on a number of bilateral topics such as agricultural and economic cooperation.
The continued cooperative development of Chabahar port, which is situated in the Sistan-Balochistan province of Iran, was examined by both countries. As a gateway to Afghanistan and Central Asia, this port facilitates trade lines that avoid Pakistan, making it strategically important for India.
India stopped importing crude oil from Iran in the middle of 2019 because of U.S. sanctions, but the Iranian delegation encouraged India to think about starting up again. Iran’s desire to restore commercial relations with India in the face of persistent geopolitical difficulties is reflected in this request.
Enhancing tourism between the two nations as part of larger initiatives to strengthen people-to-people ties was another topic of discussion. This feature emphasizes how crucial cultural exchange and economic collaboration are.
Updates on regional concerns, especially those pertaining to Afghanistan and West Asia, were part of the consultations. In order to demonstrate its dedication to regional stability, the Indian side highlighted Chabahar’s role in aiding Afghanistan’s reconstruction efforts.
Given the recent long-term deal reached in May 2024 for the operation of the Shahid Beheshti port in Chabahar, it is anticipated that the discussions will strengthen connections between India and Iran. India is expected to make large port infrastructure investments under this agreement with the goal of boosting regional connectivity and maritime trade.
