Jaishankar discusses Chabahar with Zarif in Iran

Close on the heels of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s recent visit to Iran, it had been the turn of External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on Tuesday to produce a stop-over in Iran where he held talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif.

Sources said the EAM was “transiting” through Iran en-route to Moscow to wait the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) foreign ministers’ meeting there on September 9 and 10.

However the two high-level visits from India in quick succession have raised eyebrows as well as perhaps indicates New Delhi’s concern over reports of massive Chinese financial assist with Iran amid crippling American sanctions which might pose an enormous strategic challenge to India and its own development of the Chabahar port.

The Iranian sea-port of Chabahar has proved crucial for India since it provides sea-land connectivity to Afghanistan bypassing the land route through Pakistan. The situation in Afghanistan and role that the Pakistan-backed Taliban may play there might also be weighing on New Delhi’s mind.

EAM Jaishankar tweeted, “A productive meeting with FM @JZarif throughout a stopover in Tehran. Discussed strengthening our bilateral cooperation and reviewed regional developments. Thank him for his gracious hospitality.” Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif tweeted “Pleased to host my Indian counterpart @DrSJaishankar in Tehran for talks today. Discussed expansion of bilateral relations and trade, and exchanged views on important regional issues. Our active engagement with this neighborhood is our priority.” The development of Chabahar port and situation in Afghanistan are anticipated to have already been discussed on Tuesday between the two foreign ministers.  

India had earlier got america to exempt the Chabahar port from sanctions on Iran.  India had in July said an Indian company had drastically scaled up businesses at the Chabahar port during the past two years regardless of the difficulties posed by US sanctions on Iran. New Delhi had also further assured that “proactive measures are currently underway to improve the usage of Chabahar Port, both for Afghanistan and Central Asia”. India had had also sounded an exceptionally optimistic note on Indian participation in the key Chabahar-Zahedan railway line project. Zahedan in Iran is situated close to the Afghan border and the Chabahar-Zahedan rail route could further help smooth movement of Indian goods to Afghanistan.

Meanwhile in a statement on the EAM’s visit to Moscow, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said, “External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, will be attending the meeting of Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation to be held in Moscow on 9-10 September, 2020. This will be the third CFM meeting that India will be attending as a complete member of SCO. ... The SCO Summit will be held soon. The CFM meeting in Moscow will review the preparations for the forthcoming SCO Summit and in addition exchange views on international and regional issues. External Affairs Minister’s visit in Moscow includes the participation in the Council of SCO Foreign Ministers and other bilateral meetings.”