TEHRAN: Indian prime minister’s special envoy Nitin Gadkari voiced his country’s willingness to boost natural gas imports from Iran in a bid to meets its domestic needs.
Speaking after a meeting with Gadkari in Tehran, Supreme Leader’s top advisor for international affairs Ali Akbar Velayati said “we discussed supply of Iran’s gas and oil, and the Indian side is very willing to import Iran’s gas.”
He noted that the two sides also discussed India’s partnership in the development of Chabahar port, Southern Iran, and reminded that “the port is in a strategic location in the region that is important for Iran and India”.
Velayati expressed the hope that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Iran by the end of 2015, adding that important and strategic decisions will be taken to expand the bilateral ties during Modi’s upcoming visit.
Gadkari, for his part, said that during the meeting the two sides discussed development of Chabahar port.
Modi, who is keen to develop trade ties with Central Asia, is prepared to fend off US pressure not to rush into any deals with Iran.
India and Iran agreed in 2003 to develop a port at Chabahar on the rims of the Sea of Oman, near Iran’s border with Pakistan, but the venture has made little progress due to western sanctions on Iran.
Encouraged by the prospect of a final deal between world powers and Tehran by June 30 on Iran’s nuclear program, after which sanctions could be removed, India recently sent a delegation to Iran to scout for trade, energy and infrastructure deals.
The United States cautioned India and others last week against strengthening ties with Iran ahead of a final agreement. But Indian officials said New Delhi could not ignore its national interest.
“We don’t want to miss this opportunity and will move as expeditiously as possible,” the Shipping Ministry source said.
India’s cabinet approved the plan to develop Chabahar port last year.
In October, a senior Indian trade official stressed the importance of Chabahar for investment in various sectors, including the transit of India’s products to other countries.
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