India, Iran welcome lease contract for Chabahar port operations

New Delhi [India], Feb 17 (ANI): India and Iran on Saturday welcomed the lease contract for Shahid Beheshti port of Chabahar during the interim period between Iran's Port and Maritime Organization (PMO) and India Ports Global Limited (IPGL).

They further directed that the coordination council should meet within the timelines stipulated in the Trilateral Agreement.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani reiterated their commitment for early and full operationalisation of Shahid Beheshti Port at Chabahar.

"With a view to fully utilize the potential of the Chabahar Port and its connectivity to Afghanistan and Central Asia, India conveyed its readiness to support the development of Chabahar- Zahedan Rail line," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said, in a joint statement.

The two sides recognized the unique role of Iran and India in promoting multi-modal connectivity within and across the region.

"The successful inauguration of the Phase-1 of Chabahar Port in early December 2017; the ratification of the Trilateral Agreement between India, Iran and Afghanistan on Establishment of International Transport and Transit Corridor by all sides; and the successful shipment of wheat assistance from India to Afghanistan through Chabahar Port have opened a new gateway to and from Afghanistan, Central Asia and beyond," the statement added.

Furthermore, the two leaders released a joint postage stamp depicting Deendayal Port, Kandla and Shahid Beheshti Terminal, Chabahar that reflected the enhanced prosperity through greater connectivity.

Earlier in the day, India and Iran signed nine Memorandums of Understanding (MoU)s following the delegation-level talks in the presence of PM Modi and Iranian President Rouhani.

The agreements were signed in areas like double taxation avoidance, extradition, agricultural cooperation, port lease, medicine and others.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in the joint statement with President Rouhani, said that the MoUs exchanged between India and Iran are reflective of both sides' strong relations and their commitment towards further strengthening it.

In addition to this, four MoUs have also been signed between trade bodies. (ANI)