'India can rely on Iran for energy needs'
April 18, 2016, Tehran, PTI
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Sunday assured External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj that his country can be a “reliable partner” for India’s energy needs.
Swaraj, who arrived here on Saturday, called on Rouhani and held talks with her Iranian counterpart Javad Zarif, besides meeting with Supreme Leader Sayyed Ali Khamenei’s Advisor Ali Akbar Velayati and deliberated on a range of issues.
India has been eying deeper energy ties with Iran following lifting of nuclear sanctions and has already lined up US$ 20 billion as investment in oil and gas as well as in petrochemical and fertiliser sectors there.
India is also keen to increase oil imports from Iran from the current 350,000 barrels a day.
Rouhani spoke of Chahbahar Port as a “defining partnership which has the potential of connecting the entire region”, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said.
Enhancing energy cooperation and development of the Chabahar Port were the centrepiece of talks which was mostly dominated by economic issues.
Rouhani, whose country shares border with Afghanistan and Pakistan, also hoped for closer consultations with India on regional issues especially Afghanistan and the challenge of terrorism.
On her part, Swaraj briefed him on her discussions with Zarif and said that India has always considered Iran as part of its extended neighbourhood, the spokesperson said.
She apprised him about India’s keenness in enhancing investment in various sectors including oil and gas in Iran.
“Given our natural complementarities we should move beyond a buyer seller relationship to a win win partnership,” Swaraj told the Iranian president.
The president also called for intensified engagement with India in academic, scientific and technological fields.
“India and Iran have had very rich cultural ties through history and this could pave the way for enhanced partnership in tourism and people-to-people ties,” he told Swaraj.
Swaraj, who arrived here on Saturday, called on Rouhani and held talks with her Iranian counterpart Javad Zarif, besides meeting with Supreme Leader Sayyed Ali Khamenei’s Advisor Ali Akbar Velayati and deliberated on a range of issues.
India has been eying deeper energy ties with Iran following lifting of nuclear sanctions and has already lined up US$ 20 billion as investment in oil and gas as well as in petrochemical and fertiliser sectors there.
India is also keen to increase oil imports from Iran from the current 350,000 barrels a day.
Rouhani spoke of Chahbahar Port as a “defining partnership which has the potential of connecting the entire region”, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said.
Enhancing energy cooperation and development of the Chabahar Port were the centrepiece of talks which was mostly dominated by economic issues.
Rouhani, whose country shares border with Afghanistan and Pakistan, also hoped for closer consultations with India on regional issues especially Afghanistan and the challenge of terrorism.
On her part, Swaraj briefed him on her discussions with Zarif and said that India has always considered Iran as part of its extended neighbourhood, the spokesperson said.
She apprised him about India’s keenness in enhancing investment in various sectors including oil and gas in Iran.
“Given our natural complementarities we should move beyond a buyer seller relationship to a win win partnership,” Swaraj told the Iranian president.
The president also called for intensified engagement with India in academic, scientific and technological fields.
“India and Iran have had very rich cultural ties through history and this could pave the way for enhanced partnership in tourism and people-to-people ties,” he told Swaraj.
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