Modi in Iran: India, Iran sign 12 Agreements, including Chabahar

During PM Modi’s Iran visit today, India and Iran signed 12 historic agreements, including Chabahar. President Rouhani hails India as a Major Power. Chabahar Port in southeast Iran will allow India to bypass Pakistan to transport goods to Afghanistan and central Asia using a sea-land route.

India will invest around $200 million in the first phase to develop terminals and cargo berths at Chabahar. In the next phase, India plans to build a 500-km railway line between Chabahar and Zahedan.

President Rouhani said, “We have always attached great importance to relations with India, a major power. Chabahar can become very big symbol of cooperation between Iran and India.”

PM Modi said:

* Through ages, the beauty and richness of the Persian heritage has attracted the world to Iran.

* We can never forget that Iran was among the 1st countries to come forward in support when earthquake struck my state, Gujarat, in 2001.

* In our meeting today, we focused on the full range of our bilateral engagement.

* The bilateral agreement to develop the Chabahar port and related infrastructure is an important milestone.

* The Trilateral Transport & Transit Agreement to be signed later today, will open new routes for India, Iran & Afghanistan to connect.

* We have agreed to consult closely and regularly on combating threats of terrorism, radicalism, drug trafficking and cyber crime.

All 12 Agreements:

1. India-Iran Cultural Exchange Programme.

2. Policy Dialogue between Governments & Interaction between Think Tanks.

3. Enhancing cooperation for training off Diplomats & exchange of Eminent Speakers.

4. Cooperation in the fields of Science & Technology.

5. Institutional mechanisms for cooperation to promote cultural exchange.

6. Bilateral contract on Chabahar Port for port development & operations.

7. MoU on current specific terms for the Chabahar Port Project.

8. Confirmation Statement for extending credit of Rs 3,000 crore for the import of steel rails & implementation of Chabahar Port.

9. Framework of cooperation supporting & encouraging foreign trade and foreign investment.

10. MoU facilitating possibility of joint exploration manufacturing aluminium metal.

11. MoU to provide requisite services for the construction of Chabahar-Zahedan Railway Line.

12. MoU for cooperation facilitating exchange of information & knowledge in the field of archival matters.