Iranian President Hassan Rouhani pays tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat

He was officially received by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Moodi and President Ram Nath Kovind in India’s presidential palace.

The two sides also reached agreement in other sectors such as commercial and preferential tariffs, expansion of banking relations, issuance of electronic visa and easing of commuting by the two sides’ nationals which will leave positive impacts in the region, he said.

Rouhani, who arrived in Hyderabad on Thursday, is the first Iranian President to visit India in a decade. Iran’s toppled monarch, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, visited India in 1956.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Iran President Hassan Rouhani jointly released a postal stamp to mark the relations between India and Iran. In 2009 right before the fourth round of United Nations sanctions on Iran, India had accounted for close to 40% of Iran’s oil exports, making it the second-largest importer of Iranian crude after China.

The port’s strategic importance for India grew further after Pakistan handed over the control of its Gwadar Port to China.

Nine pacts inked which includes one on double taxation avoidance.

The stamp shows ships at Iran’s Chabahar port and India’s Kandla.

In a warm parting gesture, Iranian President Rouhani gifted an animated version of Kalila Wa Demna and a copy of the Mahabharat in Farsi to PM Modi.

Separately, the Engineering Export Promotion Council of India and the Trade Promotion Organization of Iran signed a pact for increasing collaboration.

Iran and India on Saturday expressed readiness to expand comprehensive relations, Iran’s state TV reported.

President of Iran reciprocated the sentiments in his statement and informed that both countries shared views on two crucial issues, namely transit and economy at the delegation-level talks held earlier in the day.

Modi, for his part, said many obstacles had been removed from the way of expanding bilateral economic relations, prompting many mutual investment projects to bear fruit and accelerating the trend of growth in mutual ties.

Meanwhile, he lauded the cultural confluence and religious harmony in India, and said, “Whatever faith different communities in India have, they co-exist peacefully, and Iran appreciates that”. “It was also agreed to set up a Joint Committee of officials to examine feasible options… to establish functional payment channels”, it said.

Besides, the two Leaders released a joint postage stamp depicting Deendayal Port, Kandla and ShahidBeheshti Terminal, Chabahar that reflected the enhanced prosperity through greater connectivity.

They also made a decision to hold the Festival of India in Iran in 2018-19, establish a chair of Indian studies in Tehran University, organise Indology courses for Iranian diplomats and support Persian language courses in India.

MoU on cooperation in the field of agriculture and allied sectors.

The Chabahar Port in South Eastern Iran being developed by India is seen as the closest sea link of Iran to the Indian ocean.

China is now developing Gwadar port, in Pakistan, which also gives China a way into Africa. “We are sure that participation will be equal from both sides”, he said.

However, local Indian media have reported frustrations over delays in awarding a contract to develop a major gas field known as Farzad B in the Gulf.

Backing New Delhi’s quest for a permanent seat in the UNSC, Rouhani asked why India, a nation with population of 1.3 billion, was not a member of the powerful club.

Expansion of cooperation between the two countries helps maintain security and stability of the region, Indian premier said.