The Islamic Republic of Iran has discussed ways of developing bilateral cooperation with India and Germany.
In a Saturday meeting on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and Indian National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon discussed regional and international developments as well as bilateral cooperation between Iran and India.
The Iranian foreign minister pointed to the cultural, historical and political commonalities between Iran and India and underlined the significance of the bilateral ties in the promotion of regional peace and stability.
Menon, for his part, underlined his country’s willingness to strengthen economic ties with Iran in the southeastern Iranian Chabahar Port.
Iran’s Chabahar Port, located 72 kilometers (44 miles) west of Pakistan’s Gwadar Port, holds immense strategic and economic significance for India. The port is already connected to the city of Zaranj in Afghanistan’s southwestern province of Nimruz and can serve as India’s entry point to Afghanistan, Central Asia and beyond.
The Indian official said Tehran-New Delhi ties contribute to the establishment of peace and stability in the region and welcomed a planned visit by Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Shamkhani to India.
Also on Saturday, in a separate meeting with Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the German Parliament Norbert Rottgen, Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif discussed bilateral ties as well as parliamentary cooperation between Tehran and Berlin.
Pointing to the long relations between Iran and Germany in different economic, political and cultural fields, the Iranian top diplomat underlined the role of both countries’ parliaments in setting the stage for the further enhancement of ties.
The German lawmaker, for his part, pointed to the positive developments in mutual relations and wide cooperation between Iran and Germany in all economic fields, and underlined the need for reciprocal meetings between parliamentary delegations.
The two sides also discussed the latest developments in the Middle East and Europe.
