India, Iran, Armenia discuss INSTC corridor and Chabahar port in Tehran

India, Iran and Armenia held trilateral consultations in Tehran on boosting trade and regional connectivity, with INSTC and Chabahar port high on the agenda alongside bilateral talks

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Officials from India, Iran and Armenia held the third trilateral consultations in Tehran, focusing on boosting economic and trade relations, and deepening coop- eration in ensuring greater connectivity in the region, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Tuesday. 

 

The International North-South Trans- port Corridor (INSTC), along with Arme- nia’s “Crossroads of Peace” project, was discussed among other issues during the trilateral held on Monday, the ministry said. 

 

Armenia’s “Crossroads of Peace” pro- ject is aimed at improving the country’s connectivity with its neighbours Azer- baijan, Georgia, Iran and Turkey. In August, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a peace agreement in Washington. The fourth edition of the India-Iran- Armenia talks will be held in Armenia next year. The first trilateral was held in April 2023. 

 

Separately, Indian and Iranian offi- cials also held the annual bilateral talks on a range of issues, including economic, financial, trade and commercial. 

 

The two sides also discussed connec- tivity, especially the INSTC. 

 

Representatives from Iran’s Ports and Maritime Organisation, railways, trade, its central bank and agriculture ministry also attended the meeting, sources said. 

 

It was the first structured consultation between New Delhi and Tehran since the conflict between US-Israel and Iran in June. 

 

On Saturday, India’s National Security Adviser Ajit Kumar Doval had a phone conversation with Ali Larijani, secre- tary of Iran’s Supreme National Council. 

 

Lari- jani, according to IRNA, Iran’s official news agency, stressed on the importance of enhancing economic ties, security and defence cooperation between the two countries. Larijani also proposed initiatives to advance the Chabahar Port development project, “a strategic undertaking for both countries”. 

 

Larijani is scheduled to visit India later this year. The INSTC and Cha- bahar Port is important for India to get an alternative route to Afghanistan and also the Cen- tral Asian region. 

 

At the India-Iran bilateral talks, the two sides empha- sised on strengthening cooperation within the UN and other regional and multi- lateral organisations, such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and Brics. Monday's meeting was a prelude to consultations between India’s foreign secretary and Iran’s deputy foreign min- ister later this year.