Irani President Hassan Rouhani To Begin India Visit From Hyderabad

Irani President Hassan Rohuani, who is set to arrive in India for a two-day visit will make his first pit stop in Hyderabad. Rouhani who is on a bilateral visit to India (February 15-18) will visit Hyderabad and meet the Iranian community before he holds bilateral talks with India, and before his ceremonial welcome in New Delhi.

Rouhani will arrive at Hyderabad’s Begumpet Airport and will visit Salar Jung Museum, Golconda Fort, and Qutub Shahi Tomb and offer prayers at the Makkah Masjid.

Rouhani will hold a meeting with the Iranian Community in Hyderabad before emplaning for Delhi.

In New Delhi, the Irani head of state is slated to meet the EAM (External Affairs Minister) Sushma Swaraj, PM Modi and Indian President Ram Nath Kovind and hold bilateral talks.

Modi had paid a state visit to Iran in May 2016.

As per a statement from MEA (Ministry of External Affairs), during the visit, India and Iran would review the progress achieved in the bilateral relations and also exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual interest.

The formal talks will begin in New Delhi on Saturday where Rouhani will be given a ceremonial welcome, before his meeting with PM Modi.

During the bilateral talks, the issue of slow progress on the Chabahar Port (trilateral between India-Iran-Afghanistan) is expected to be on the table which Iran feels has got stuck due to the US pressure on countries and the latest sanctions on Iran.

Chabahar Port is of strategic importance to India as it is a trade route for India which bypasses Pakistan and connects India-Iran-Afghanistan and is aimed at further connectivity for India to central Asian countries.

Previously in an exclusive interview with BW Businessworld, Afghanistan’s Ambassador to India, Dr. Shaida Abdali said, “India, Afghanistan, and Iran worked together for almost 13 years before realizing the life-changing initiative. It is going to dramatically the economic situation of the region.”

Chabahar Port is located just 70 Km’s away from Gawdar Port in Pakistan, which has heavy investments from China.