New Delhi/Iran: External Affairs Minister (EAM) of India Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar (Dr. S. Jaishankar) called on the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Dr. Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi and conveyed the greetings of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 15.

During discussion EAM also expressed condolences over the Kerman attack.

On January 3 in 2024, a commemorative ceremony marking the assassination of Qasem Soleimani at his grave in eastern Kerman in Iran, was attacked by two bomb explosions. The attacks killed more than 94 people and injured 284 others. While the Iranian government declared the bombings a terrorist attack.

EAM also apprised President Raisi of his productive discussions with the Iranian Ministers.

EAM Jaishankar posted on X in Persian and English:

"Honoured to call on the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Dr Ebrahim Raisi @raisi_com. Conveyed the greetings of PM @narendramodi. Expressed condolences over the Kerman attack. Apprised him of my productive discussions with the Iranian Ministers. Value his guidance for further development of ties."

EAM also held discussion with his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amirabdollahian on January 15.

The bilateral discussion was focused on the long term framework for India's involvement with Chabahar port and the International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC) connectivity project between EAM and his Iranian counterpart.

They also spoke about threats to maritime shipping in the region.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian posted on X in Persion:

EAM also wrote on X:

"Held wide ranging discussions today in Tehran with Iranian FM @Amirabdolahian. Our bilateral discussion focused on the long term framework for India's involvement with Chabahar port and the INSTC connectivity project. Also spoke about threats to maritime shipping in the region. Important that this be speedily addressed. Other issues on the agenda were the Gaza situation, Afghanistan, Ukraine and BRICS cooperation."

https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1746905480285606166?s=20

The President of Iran stressed the need to follow up and accelerate the implementation of the agreements between Iran and India, including the Chabahar Port Development Plan, and the need to compensate for the delay in the implementation of commitments.

"Dr Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi, in a meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of India, Mr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, stressed the need to follow up and accelerate the implementation of the agreements between the two countries, including the Chabahar Port Development Plan, and emphasised the need to compensate for the delay in the implementation of commitments", the President Office of Iran said in its statement on January 15.

During the meeting, the President also referred to the deep-rooted relations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and India, and the efforts to fulfil the will of the high officials of the two countries in order to develop and improve the level of relations in various political, economic, science and technology, transportation and energy sectors.

"The importance of the common view of the two countries in the field of combating terrorism and organised crime", "The need for cooperation to establish stability and security in Afghanistan", "Strengthening international trade, especially through national currencies" and "Emphasis on maintaining the security of shipping in international waters" were the main points of the President in the meeting with the Indian Foreign Minister.

"In another part of his speech, the President described the crimes committed by the Zionist regime in Gaza as clear examples of war crimes and crimes against humanity and clarified, “Stopping the attacks on Gaza, punishing the Zionist regime and fulfilling the rights of the Palestinian people is the only way to return stability and security to the region, and it is important for India to play a role in ending the bombings, lifting the blockade of this region and realising the rights of the Palestinian people”. In this meeting, Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar also expressed his condolences and sympathies with the government and people of Iran following the recent terrorist incident in Kerman, and thanked the efforts of the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran to develop relations with the countries of the region and create a significant change in relations with India", the President Office of Iran said in its statement on January 15.

While announcing the country's interest in concluding a comprehensive and long-term cooperation agreement with the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of India emphasised India's complete adherence to its commitments in the Chabahar port development project as well as comprehensive development of cooperation with Iran, the President Office of Iran also said.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Islamic Republic of Iran said in the statement on January 15 quoting the Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian's statement:

"Today in Tehran, I hosted Indian Foreign Minister @DrSJaishankar and we held talks over the latest regional and international developments, especially the Zionist regime’s genocide and crimes against Palestinians.

We further discussed the expanding bilateral and multilateral ties within the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS, the state of strategic connections, the expansion of Chabahar Port and the significance of the north-south transit route.

Also, I underscored the importance of security in international waters for the Islamic Republic of Iran and said that the White House’s continued support for war crimes by the Zionists paves the way for the spillage of instability across the region."

"Our people-to-people contacts have long been a strength. Iran and India are united by our deep cultural, literary and linguistic ties, which create a unique foundation for increasing exchanges of tourists, students, artists, athletes, and scholars. We discussed how we can better link our cultural and educational institutions. Let me share with you all that the Government of India has decided to include Farsi as one of the nine classical languages of India in our New Education Policy.

Regional connectivity has been a critical pillar of India-Iran relations, and was naturally prominent in the agenda of today's discussions. I reiterated India's interest in benefiting from Iran's unique geographical position to access markets in Central Asia, Afghanistan and Eurasia. We discussed the prospects of energising the International North South Transport Corridor", EAM said in the joint press statement with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iran.