India for strengthening ties with Iran: PM Narendra Modi

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said India attaches high importance to its relations with Iran and expressed keenness to further strengthen ties with it, including in the areas of trade, investment, oil and gas, connectivity and port development.

He conveyed the views to Iran's Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance Ali Tayyebnia who called on him here.

Tayyebnia is visiting India for the bilateral Joint Commission meeting co-chaired by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister conveyed to the visiting minister that India attaches high importance to its relations with Iran, a PMO statement said.

He recalled his fruitful meeting with President Rouhani in Ufa, on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit, in July.

"The Prime Minister expressed readiness on the part of India to further strengthen bilateral relations, including in the areas of trade, investment, oil and gas, connectivity, port development," the statement said.

India is already engaged in construction of Chahbahar port in Iran.