Deputy NSA visits Iran to promote freight transit via INSTC

India's Deputy National Security Advisor Vikram Misri is in Iran with an aim to promote freight transit through the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and extend the usage of Chabahar Port, India's first foreign port project.

Iran is a key partner in India's extended neighbourhood and Misri's visit coincides with the country's entry into the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).

On Tuesday, Misri attended the third trilateral meeting of the founding member-states of INSTC-Iran, Russia and India-in Tehran. Senior officials from the three countries, including Iran's transport and urban development minister Mehrdad Bazrpash, head of Iran's Ports and Maritime Organization Ali-Akbar Safaei and senior aide to president of the Russian Federation Igor Yevgenyevich Levitin also attended the meeting.

Misri emphasised India's determination to cooperate with Iran and Russia for completing the INSTC. "India has been a participant in various initiatives and projects regarding the north-south corridor and has always been committed to providing its resources in the best way to the implementers so that this corridor is developed in the best way possible," he told the gathering.

Speaking at the meeting, Bazrpash underlined some of Iran's major principles regarding the promotion of INSTC, including multilateralism, partnership, transit neighbourhood, networking and facilitation of trade and called for maximum collaboration for the development of exchanges through the INSTC.