PM Modi & Iranian Prez Rouhani Ink Nine MoUs, Issue Joint Stamp
This will be Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s first visit to India after he assumed office in 2013.
advertisement
Rouhani's First Visit After Assuming Office
This will be Iranian President Haasan Rouhani's first visit to India after he assumed office in 2013. It comes after Modi's visit to Tehran in 2016 during which a trilateral agreement on transit and transport was signed between India, Iran and Afghanistan.
India committed $85 million in investment for the development of the Shahid Beheshti Port in Iran's southeastern city of Chabahar.
The first phase of the port was inaugurated by President Rouhani in December last year, a little over a month after the first consignment of wheat from India to Afghanistan was sent via this facility.
The port opens a new strategic transit route between Iran, India, Afghanistan and other Central Asian nations bypassing Pakistan.
India-Iran bilateral trade stood at $12.89 billion in 2016-17, according to figures provided by the External Affairs Ministry.
Security Tightened in Hyderabad
Tight security arrangements will be in place for President Rouhani, who is arriving on Thursday for his three-day visit to India, officials said.
Officials of Iranian and Indian security agencies were busy giving final touches to the security during his stay in Hyderabad for two days.
Rouhani will be the first head of a state to address a congregation at the 17th century mosque, one of the biggest in India. After offering the prayers along with ministers and top officials accompanying him, he will address the gathering in the sprawling courtyard of the mosque, which can accommodate about 10,000 worshippers.
President Rouhani Leaves Tehran to Begin Three-Day Visit
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has left from Tehran to begin his three-day visit to India, according to Iranian News Agency IRNA.
Rouhani will be accompanied by officials including Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, Petroleum Minister Bijan Zanganeh, Minister of Road and Urban Development Abbas Akhundi, Minister of Industry, Mines and Trade Mohammad Shariatmadari and Chief of staff of Iran's President Mahmoud Vaezi for his visit.
Rouhani will land at the Begumpet Airport around 4 pm on Thursday where Union Minister of State for Power RK Singh will welcome him.
"He is scheduled to address Muslim intellectuals, scholars and clerics at 6.30 pm," an official source told PTI.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani Arrives in Hyderabad
President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Hassan Rouhani arrived in Hyderabad along with his high-ranking political-economic delegation on Thursday to mark the beginning of his three-day visit to India.
Union Minister of State for Power RK Singh and Telangana and Andhra Pradesh Governor ESL Narasimhan received Rouhani at the Begumpet airport.
"Rouhani is scheduled to address Muslim intellectuals, scholars and clerics in the city at 6:30 pm today," an official said.
Rouhani will offer Friday prayers at Makkah Masjid on 16 February and will be visiting the Golconda Fort and Salar Jung Museum as well.
President Rouhani will be in Hyderabad for two days and will be accompanied by a 21-member delegation. He will also meet people of Iranian-origin living in Hyderabad.
India Living Example of Co-Existence: Rouhani
Citing India as a living example of peaceful co-existence of people of different religious and ethnicities, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani called for unity between Shias and Sunnis.
Stating that there can be no military solution to conflicts, he said that Iran seeks brotherly relations with all the Muslims nations and the countries of the region including India.
Addressing Muslim leaders and scholars belonging to different Islamic schools of thought in Hyderbad on Thursday, his half an hour long speech was focused on calling for the unity among the Shias and Sunnis while holding the West responsible for sowing the seeds of discords among various sects of Muslims.
He noted that India and Iran have historical and cultural relations which go beyond political and economic ties and the people of the two great countries share the same historical roots.
Rouhani Visits Qutb Shahi
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani visited the famous Qutub Shahi tombs on the second day of his Hyderabad visit.
Rouhani visited the tombs of Qutub Shahi rulers in Golconda area in the city. These monuments are popularly known as seven tombs and built in Iranian architecture style.
Telangana government officials and AKTC office-bearers briefed the Iranian president about the tombs.
In a rare gesture, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, who is a senior Shia cleric too, visited the historic Makkah Masjid, a Sunni mosque, to offer Friday prayers and called for unity among Muslims across the world.
He asserted that if Muslims were united US would not have dared to declare Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
On the second day of his three-day visit to India, he joined common worshippers in offering prayers at the 17th century mosque, noting that Friday prayers symbolise the unity among Muslims as they come together to pray.
Rouhani Arrives in New Delhi
In the evening, President Rouhani arrived in Delhi from Hyderabad. He will hold bilateral talks with Modi on Saturday. He will also call on President Ram Nath Kovind.
Rouhani Meets PM Modi, President Kovind at Rashtrapati Bhavan
President Rouhani reached the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Saturday morning, where he was greeted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ram Nath Kovind.
As reported by ANI, he also inspected the guard of honour as per tradition, at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. In 2015, when US President Barrack Obama visited the Rastrapati Bhavan, he too was awarded the ceremonial guard of honour and a 21-gun salute, reports BusinessLine.
Rouhani Pays Tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat
Following the ceremonial guard of honour at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, President Rouhani visited Raj Ghat, which is a memorial situated behind Red Fort, that is dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi.
Like several other world leaders, Rouhani too paid a tribute to the Father of the Nation.
Earlier this year, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife, as part of their India-trip, had visited the Sabarmati Ashram along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and had paid a tribute to Gandhi and turned his Charkha as well.
Iran Looks to Strengthen Cultural & Diplomatic Ties with India
At a gathering post the Friday prayers at the Mecca-Masjid in Hyderabad, President Rouhani had reportedly spoken about implementing measures by which Iran could "strengthen cultural and diplomatic ties between the two countries”, reports Times of India.
According to this report, Rouhani had said that Iran was willing to share its oil and natural gas resources with India. To this end, he said that the opening of Iran's Chabahar port to India would provide a gateway to Afghanistan, Central Asia and Europe.
He also called for an easing of visa norms between the two countries, the report added.
Rouhani with PM Modi at Hyderabad House
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani visited Hyderabad House in Delhi, a famous spot for foreign dignatories with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Saturday.
Earlier in the day, he also met with Minister of External Affairs, Sushma Swaraj.
Delegation Talks Between India and Iran Underway
Delegation talks between the two countries have commenced at Hyderabad House in Delhi.
According to NDTV, Rouhani and Modi are expected to discuss various issues with regard to deepening the cultural and economic ties between the two countries, which will include simplified visa procedures among others.
After the session, the two leaders will start the bilateral talks, following which they will give a joint statement, the report adds. The talks are expected to go on for two hours, at the end of which they will sign a number of agreements.
India, Iran Exchange MoUs and Issue Joint Postal Stamp
Post delegation talks, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took the stage, thanking President Rouhani for visiting India and telling him that his visit would help strategic communications between the two nations.
Modi and Rouhani issued a joint postal stamp, before which MoUs were exchanged between the two nations in the presence of the two leaders.
Modi said that the two nations had discussed the matters of business, trade, health, terrorism, academic relations and many more issues as part of the bilateral talks.
The Relations Between India & Iran Go Back in History: Rouhani
After Modi’s speech, the President of Iran, Hassan Rouhani thanked him for "the kindness accorded” to them by the government of India.
In his speech, he said that the India-Iran connection went way beyond trade and business and, in fact, can be traced all the way back to history.
Speaking about some of the key points discussed in the bilateral talks with Prime Minister Modi he said:
Strong India-Iran Ties Will Benefit Afghanistan: Modi
In his speech, Modi had also said that greater strategic co-operation and communication among the two nations would also benefit Afghanistan, which is a close neighbour to both nations.
He also said that together the nations could help prevent the onslaught of terrorism that was abound in Afghanistan, and rid them of the same.
India and Iran Have Signed a Number of Agreements
As reported by NDTV, the two nations have signed a total of nine agreements:
- Maritime Agreement on Chabahar Port and Document on Shahid Behesti port
- Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements
- Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Exemption of Visa requirements for diplomatic passport holders
- Ratification of Extradition Treaty
- Co-operation on Medicine
- MoU on Establishment on Trade
- MoU on Co-operation on Agriculture
- MoU on Health
- MoU on Postal Co-operation
Rouhani Pledges to Stick to Nuclear Deal Commitments
Iran's President Hassan Rouhani said on Saturday the country will adhere to commitments under its 2015 international nuclear agreement, signed with six world powers to limit its disputed nuclear programme.
"We will adhere to our commitments made," Rouhani said at an event in New Delhi. "After signing a contract, haggling with it is ridiculous."
Under the agreement signed with the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China, Iran agreed to limit its nuclear activities in return for the lifting of many sanctions.
US President Donald Trump has been pushing for changes to the agreement.
"If the US violates this agreement... you will see that America will regret this decision," he said adding that his country had always adhered to contract deals so long as other parties did not violate the contract.
Rouhani Meets Vice President Naidu
Iran President Hassan Rouhani met Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu this evening.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani wound up his three-day visit to India by inking nine MoUs with India and delivering a joint address with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 17 February.
- On the first leg of his visit, he toured Hyderabad, where he offered prayers at the historic Mecca-Masjid and called for unity among Muslims across the world
- This is Rouhani’s first visit to India since he assumed office in 2013
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)