Iran-India joint commission begins in Tehran

Dubai, Nov 2 (UNI) India and Iran are expected to sign 11 exploratory agreements during the 15th Iran-India Joint Commission meeting in Tehran in the presence of Iran's Minister of Finance Shamseddin Hosseini and Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

Iran will try to push India to join the proposed Iran-Pakistan-India pipeline project during the meeting, according to observers.

Mr Mukherjee is currently in Iran heading a high-ranking economic delegation to discuss ways to promote Tehran-New Delhi economic ties during the two-day meeting.

The two sides are expected to sign 11 letters of understanding for expansion of economic cooperation in the fields of making joint investments, air transport and judiciary.

The meeting is also to pave the way for sisterhood of Iran's Bandar Shahid Rajaee in Hormuzgan province with India's Jawaharlal Nehru Port as well as cooperation of the Iranian and Indian railways.

India is unable to do much business with Iran after some of its key banks came under US sanctions.

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