Chabahar port can help strenthen relations with India: Iran

"We view the relations with India as favourable. The leaders of the two countries aim at promoting the ties," Saeed Jalili, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran, said here.

He said there was great potential for deepening ties and that India and Iran are facing common interests and threats.

"This means making use of the potential of facilities of the Chabahar port to Indians goods to various parts of the world... North-South corridor is one of the most important project, a strategic project which can promote mutual relations and multi-lateral ties," said Jalili who is here on a three-day official visit during which he will hold talks with National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon.

India's interest in the Iranian port is not only to get a direct access to Central Asia but also to facilitate import of minerals from Afghanistan.

Tehran plans to expand the port in five phases and to ramp up its capacity to 20 million tonnes by 2020.

Jalili also praised praised India's contribution to Non- Aligned Movement and noted that the ties between the two countries are rooted in history.