New Delhi, May 18 — National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval held a telephonic conversation with Ali Akbar Ahmadian, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, on Sunday, where the two sides reviewed strategic cooperation, including the development of the Chabahar Port and the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC).
In a post on X, the Iranian Embassy in India confirmed the call and quoted Doval as saying that India values Iran’s constructive regional role and seeks to expand bilateral cooperation, particularly in infrastructure and connectivity sectors.
“NSA Doval expressed India’s keen interest in swiftly implementing strategic projects like Chabahar and INSTC,” the embassy noted, adding that Doval thanked Iran for its “continued assistance and support.”
Describing India and Iran as two ancient civilisations with deep-rooted ties, Doval underlined the shared potential for political and economic collaboration, emphasizing that enhanced bilateral engagement serves broader regional peace and stability.
The call follows remarks by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar at the 20th India-Iran Joint Commission Meeting in Delhi earlier this month, where he acknowledged the progress in bilateral ties and cited the October 2024 meeting between PM Modi and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in Kazan as a strategic milestone in guiding future cooperation.
India has consistently underscored the importance of Chabahar Port as a key transit hub for trade with Central Asia and Afghanistan, and the INSTC as a strategic corridor to counterbalance regional connectivity gaps.
