Iran Prez Rouhani's visit: India inks 9 pacts, leases part of Chabahar port

The countries also decided to explore cooperation in defence and maritime sector

India and Iran on Saturday inked nine agreements and committed to early completion of the Chabahar port. They decided to find convergence in their views on the issue of terrorism and resolved to improve trade and energy ties.

Apart from these official agreements, four others were signed between industry chambers of the two countries on the sidelines. The highlight was Tehran leasing operational control of Shahid Beheshti port  for 18 months to New Delhi, which is the phase one of the Chabahar port. The Chabahar port, a mere 90-km from China-controlled Gwadar port in Pakistan, is of strategic importance since it