PM Modi meets Iranian President on the sidelines of SCO summit in Uzbekistan, discusses mutual interests

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Uzbekistan on Friday. The two leaders discussed issues of bilateral and mutual interest. Both the leaders are in the historic city of 'Samarkand' in Uzbekistan to attend the 22nd SCO summit. Iran has been a major country for India in the Gulf region.

The two countries are jointly focusing on improving connectivity between Southeast Asia and Central Asia. India has been projecting Iran's Chabahar port as a major regional transit hub, including in Afghanistan.

The Chabahar port in Sistan-Balochistan province on the southern coast of energy-rich Iran is being developed by India, Iran and Afghanistan to boost connectivity and trade ties. India has been in touch with Iran over developments in neighboring Afghanistan since the takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban on August 15 last year.

Earlier this month, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had a telephonic conversation with his Iranian counterpart Hussein Amir-Abdullahian focusing on bilateral cooperation and Iran's nuclear deal.