“India acknowledges Iran’s vital role in providing access to Eurasia and ensuring regional stability and security, while Iran recognizes India’s role in shaping the new global order.”
As we celebrate the 46th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution in Iran, what message would you like to convey to the Iranian community in India and to Indians who are keenly observing the progress and achievements of Iran over these years?
The people of Iran and India have always maintained close ties throughout history. The friendship between our two nations has a long-standing history, and for centuries, we have witnessed interactions between Iran and India in various fields. The cultural and civilizational bonds that connect our peoples encourage greater collaboration and engagement.
Today, the relationship between our two countries is experiencing new dimensions of cooperation, offering unique opportunities for businesspeople and economic stakeholders from both nations. My message to both the Iranian community and the esteemed people of India is to seize these opportunities for the prosperity and development of both countries. The potential for cooperation between Iran and India in various sectors is vast, and fortunately, there is strong mutual determination to harness these opportunities. I encourage economic operator from both nations to take advantage of these possibilities.
Iran and India are marking 75 years of diplomatic relations this year. How do you view the evolution of this relationship, and what major milestones would you highlight as pivotal in shaping the current Iran-India partnership?
As I mentioned, Iran and India have a history of relations that spans thousands of years. However, if we focus on the 75 years of diplomatic ties between the two countries, we can see that, despite numerous challenges such as unfair sanctions, complex regional developments, and at times, bilateral misunderstandings, the relationship between Iran and India has remained stable and mutually satisfying, which emphasizes their strategic importance. Tehran and New Delhi cannot overlook each other’s strategic significance. India acknowledges Iran’s vital role in providing access to Eurasia and ensuring regional stability and security, while Iran recognizes India’s role in shaping the new global order. Therefore, despite various obstacles and challenges, both countries have continued to strengthen their bilateral relations and protect them from complex regional and international developments.
India’s External Affairs Minister visited Iran earlier this year. What were some of the key outcomes from that visit? How do you see this impacting the trajectory of Iran-India relations, particularly in areas like trade, infrastructure development, and regional cooperation?
The visit of Mr. Jaishankar to Iran reflects the strong level of relations between the two countries. In recent years, officials from both nations have met and engaged in discussions at various levels, both in their respective countries and on the sidelines of international conferences. These meetings and dialogues have been aimed at developing the cooperation between the two countries. Following Mr. Jaishankar’s visit to Iran, discussions regarding the finalization of cooperation in the Chabahar Port project gained momentum, and fortunately, a cooperation agreement for the development of Chabahar Port was signed last May. Work on this project is currently underway, and we hope that the people of both countries will soon benefit from the positive results of these collaborations.
Trade between Iran and India has always been a critical pillar of the bilateral relationship. With global shifts in trade dynamics and sanctions, how do you envision future trade cooperation between the two countries? Are there any specific sectors that both sides are focusing on to enhance economic ties?
The economies of Iran and India are complementary to each other. In fact, both countries require economic cooperation, which drives them to explore various avenues for collaboration despite the challenges hindering the development of their partnership. Sanctions-related obstacles will not last forever, and we hope that these barriers will soon be removed so that the trade volume between the two nations can return to its previous strong levels.
In the past, the energy sector was the backbone of bilateral relations. However, today, transportation and agriculture have taken on this role. The key point is that Iran and India have been, and will continue to be, reliable partners for each other. We hope that Iranian energy will once again enter the Indian economy and further enhance the bilateral relationship.
The Third Working Group meeting on the development of the Chabahar Port was recently concluded. How do you assess the progress made so far? What are Iran’s priorities regarding this strategic port, and how does it fit into the broader connectivity and trade initiatives between Iran, India, and Central Asia?
The third meeting of the Chabahar Port Development Working Group was held in November last year, resulting in significant agreements in this regard. The pace of progress in cooperation has been very promising, and we hope that with the completion of infrastructure, the port will soon become operational.
In Chabahar Port, Iran has not waited for India and, alongside the projects being implemented in cooperation with India, has been actively pursuing various development initiatives. Chabahar will soon be connected to Iran’s railway network. Additionally, the construction of the port’s airport is underway, which is expected to play a crucial role in attracting foreign investors to this strategic port.
Iran offers significant investment opportunities in various sectors such as energy, petrochemicals, agriculture, and infrastructure. How is Iran working to attract more Indian investments in these areas, and what incentives or benefits can Indian companies expect if they choose to invest in Iran?
There are numerous investment opportunities in Iran. Indian companies wishing to invest in Iran will benefit from many advantages, the most important of which include: no restrictions on the amount of investment, Indian investors receiving the same treatment and equal rights as Iranian investors, the possibility of investing in all permitted areas designated for Iran’s private sector, the ability to establish a company in Iran with 100% foreign capital, the possibility of transferring the principal investment, dividends, capital gains, and installments of foreign financial facilities in the form of currency or goods abroad, the option to acquire land through an Iranian company with ownership by the Indian investor, access to MIGA (Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency) insurance coverage, and many other benefits that we will introduce later.
Iran and India share deep cultural and historical connections. How does the embassy plan to promote these ties further, especially as both nations celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations? Are there any new cultural exchanges, festivals, or initiatives planned for 2025 to strengthen these bonds?
The cultural relations between Iran and India date back thousands of years. There are numerous ethical and spiritual affinities between Iranians and Indians, reflected in various aspects such as culture, music, architecture, literature, and many other artistic and cultural fields. Few nations have been as closely connected as the people of Iran and India.
Cultural cooperation between Iran and India has always remained active, and cultural exchanges between the two countries have never ceased throughout history. Indian artists regularly participate in art festivals in Iran, and likewise, Iranian artists actively take part in artistic festivals in India, with film festivals being a notable example.
Each year, Iranian artists participate in the Surajkund Handicrafts Fair, and this year, a group of Iranian artists also attended this prestigious event. Additionally, book fairs in India and Tehran provide another significant avenue for mutual collaboration, where both countries participate at a high level annually.
Last year, we organized an Iranian food festival in India, and we are currently planning to host an Indian food festival in Iran. These initiatives demonstrate our commitment to strengthening cultural ties and fostering deeper people-to-people connections between our two nations.
As we look ahead, what is your vision for the future of Iran-India relations in the next 5–10 years? What are the key areas of cooperation that you believe will define this partnership, and how do you see both countries navigating the changing geopolitical landscape together?
In the next five years, cooperation between the two countries in the development of Chabahar Port will reach its final stages, and with the completion of the North-South Corridor, Iran and India will play a pivotal role in enhancing transit through this route. With advancements in connectivity, both nations will assume key roles in ensuring security in South Asia and Central Asia. Additionally, we anticipate stronger and more extensive people-to-people connections.
Given both countries’ membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and BRICS, it is expected that Iran-India cooperation will significantly expand in the coming years. Overall, the future of Iran-India relations is bright and promising.
We firmly believe that this century belongs to Asia, and within this framework, Iran and India will undoubtedly play a crucial role in global affairs. Throughout history, India and Iran have stood together, and they will continue to do so in the future.
Would you like to give any message to our Envoy Excellency readers?
I would like to extend my congratulations to your readers on the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Iran and India. I wish the people of India happiness, prosperity, security, and progress, and I hope that the friendship between the nations of Iran and India continues to grow stronger in the years to come.