Modi government set to roll 'red carpet' for Hassan Rouhani
, ET Bureau|
Feb 13, 2018, 08.29 AM IST
NEW DELHI: The Narendra Modi government is ready to roll out the red carpet for Iranian President Hassan Rouhani this week, 15 years after President Md. Khatami visited Delhi at the invitation of the then PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee for Republic Day celebrations.
Rouhani's visit will give a major boost to connectivity projects, infra investments, energy ties, including Farzad B gas field and security cooperation, said persons familiar with bilateral ties. The visit itself is a reflection of India's balanced foreign policy approach as the trip takes place less than two months of the Israeli PM's visit to India.
Yet, India needs to do some further fine balancing as Rouhani is visiting at a time when the US President Donald Trump has kept Iran on tenterhooks with warnings of fresh sanctions as well as threats to pull out of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) nuclear agreement.
Delhi has been viewing Tehran for its connectivity plans with Eurasia through INSTC and Chabahar Port. During Modi's visit to Iran in 2016, both sides had signed a $500-million agreement to develop the Chabahar port to boost regional connectivity. The agreement also included funding of a rail link to Zahedan.
Rouhani's visit will give a major boost to connectivity projects, infra investments, energy ties, including Farzad B gas field and security cooperation, said persons familiar with bilateral ties. The visit itself is a reflection of India's balanced foreign policy approach as the trip takes place less than two months of the Israeli PM's visit to India.
Yet, India needs to do some further fine balancing as Rouhani is visiting at a time when the US President Donald Trump has kept Iran on tenterhooks with warnings of fresh sanctions as well as threats to pull out of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) nuclear agreement.
Delhi has been viewing Tehran for its connectivity plans with Eurasia through INSTC and Chabahar Port. During Modi's visit to Iran in 2016, both sides had signed a $500-million agreement to develop the Chabahar port to boost regional connectivity. The agreement also included funding of a rail link to Zahedan.
