Iran will seriously pursue Chabahar development, President Rouhani tells Modi

President Hassan Rouhani says Tehran will "seriously" pursue the implementation of a joint project with India on the development of Iran’s southeastern port of Chabahar.

The President made the remark during a Wednesday telephone conversation with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“Iran’s Chabahar port, which connects different regional countries, including India, Afghanistan and [those in] Central Asia to one another, is one of the symbols of Tehran-New Delhi cooperation,” President Rouhani said.

Describing as “successful” a recent visit by the Indian premier to Iran, President Rouhani underlined the need for the immediate implementation of the agreements signed between Tehran and New Delhi, particularly on the development of Chabahar port.

The Iranian president also referred to various issues of mutual interest and expressed Tehran’s readiness to upgrade ties with New Delhi to a strategic level.

In the phone conversation, Modi said that his country is determined to boost cooperation with Iran in all sectors.

He described as positive his talks with Iranian officials during his visit to Iran in May, adding that India will do its utmost to speed up the implementation of bilateral agreements.

The Indian prime minister also officially invited President Rouhani to visit India.

The deal to develop Chabahar was part of a series of agreements that India and Iran signed to increase cooperation in various areas.

The Chabahar agreement is expected to create a regional trade, investment and transportation hub with links from the Indian Ocean to Central Asia.