Amidst the growing global concerns over Houthi militants targeting merchant vessels in the Red Sea, external affairs minister S Jaishankar met with his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian. The two ministers discussed a range of key issues including the unfolding security situation in the Red Sea and also deliberated on bilateral, regional and global issues.
During talks with his counterpart, boosting regional connectivity through the Chabahar port was also on the agenda of talks.
The two countries agreed to finalize the deal inked between Iran and India on the development of the port. Iran’s roads minister Mehrdad Bazrpash also proposed setting up a joint transportation committee for the expansion of bilateral cooperation and said the formation of the committee will activate the transit capacities and use of the INSTC.
Chabahar Port & Connectivity
The minister earlier held meetings with Minister of Roads and Urban Development Mehrdad Bazrpash during which the two sides held a detailed and “productive” discussion on establishing a long-term cooperation framework on the strategically vital Chabahar port. And the two countries signed an agreement on further development of Chabahar port.
Jaishankar, who is in Tehran as part of the ongoing high-level exchanges between the two sides, shared views on the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) with Bazrpash.
“Began my engagements in Tehran by meeting the Minister of Roads and Urban Development @mehrdadbazrpash. 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 in a post on X.
Located in Sistan-Balochistan province on the energy-rich Iran’s southern coast, the Chabahar port is being developed by India and Iran to boost connectivity and trade ties.
India has been pushing for the Chabahar port project to boost regional trade, especially for its connectivity to Afghanistan.
At a connectivity conference in Tashkent in 2021, Jaishankar projected the Chabahar port as a key regional transit hub, including to Afghanistan. The Chabahar port is also seen as a key hub for the INSTC project.
The INSTC is a 7,200-km-long multi-mode transport project for moving freight among India, Iran, Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Central Asia and Europe.
Situation in Red Sea
The US and the UK have launched air strikes targeting the Houthi positions in Yemen.
India has been closely monitoring the unfolding situation in the Red Sea. The issue figured in a phone conversation between Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday.
The Indian Navy has already deployed 12 of its frontline ships and surveillance aircraft for maritime security operations in view of the maritime environment in the critical sea lanes including the North and Central Arabian Sea.
Following the airstrikes targeting the Houthi positions, US President Joe Biden said he will not hesitate to direct further measures. “The response of the international community to these reckless attacks has been united and resolute,” he said.
Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra visited Tehran in November to co-chair a meeting of India-Iran Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) along with Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for political affairs, Ali Bagheri Kani.