PM Modi talks to Iranian President on Friday; discuss BRICS expansion and other issues

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Dr Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi, President of Iran on Friday discussed their upcoming meeting next week on the sidelines of BRICS Summit in South Africa besides BRICS expansion and full operationalisation of the Chabahar Port.

The two leaders during their telephone conversation discussed matters of bilateral and regional importance, according to an official readout by the Ministry of External Affairs.

The two leaders also discussed cooperation at multilateral forums including expansion of BRICS and looked forward to their meeting on the margins of forthcoming BRICS summit in South Africa. They last met in Samarkand on the sidelines of the SCO Summit. Iran was admitted as a full member of the SCO this year under India's chairmanship of the grouping. Iran is an aspirant to join the BRICS. The South Africa summit will focus on BRICS expansion among other issues.


The Prime Minister highlighted that India- Iran relationship is underpinned by close historic and civilizational connections, including strong people to people contacts, according to the readout.

The two leaders reiterated their commitment to further strengthen bilateral cooperation including to realize the full potential of Chabahar Port as a connectivity hub, according to the readout. India is funding expansion of the Chabahar Port as a connectivity link to Afghanistan, Central Asia and Eurasia.

There are also plans to link Chabahar Port with the International North South Transport Corridor or INSTC. Iran is key to INSTC that is playing a key part in boosting Indo-Russian trade over the last one-and-a-half years. During Deputy NSA Vikram Misri's recent visit to Tehran, India-Iran-Russia held a trilateral for smooth operationalization of the INSTC. Plans are afoot to link the Northern Sea Route with INSTC for linking the Arctic with the Indian Ocean Region.

Established in 2000 by Iran, Russia, and India, this 7,200-km-long INSTC works as a multi-modal network of ship, rail, and road routes for moving freight between India, Iran, Azerbaijan, Russia, Central Asia, and Europe.