Iran to look in charges against Khulbhushan Jadhav fairly: Iranian envoy

NEW DELHI: Iran on Thursday indicated that it will not take Pakistan’s allegation against Indian national Khulbhushan Jadhav’s activities on face value and that Tehran is looking into the issue accurately as it announced that PM Narendra Modi’s visit to this Persian Gulf could take place in near future.

“Iran is looking into the issue of allegations against Indian national Jadhav accurately,” Iranian Ambassador to India Gholamreza Ansari told a select group of reporters here on Thursday evening close on the heels of Foreign and Oil Ministers visits to Tehran.

Ansari was asked about Iran’s stand on Khulbhushan whom Pakistan has alleged as an Indian agent operating from Chabahar Port where India is investing in both infrastructure as well as in Special Economic Zone.

Ansari refused to divulge more details but it was clear that Tehran had not taken Pakistan on face value. Earlier, Iranian President Hasan Rouhani had also snubbed Pakistan on the issue during his visit to Islamabad. Asked about timeframe about PM Modi’s visit to Tehran, the Iranian envoy did not talk about a specific timeline but stated that it will take place in near future.

Authoritative sources earlier indicated to ET that Modi could be in Tehran in the next few months. The Iranian envoy listed connectivity projects including ports and railroads and energy partnership as key areas of cooperation between Delhi and Tehran.