Iranian President Hassan Rouhani meets President, PM Modi

On his first visit after assuming office in 2013, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, who arrived in Hyderabad for a three-day India trip, will hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi

Iran President Hassan Rouhani was received by President Ramnath Kovind and PM Modi at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Saturday. Hassan Rouhani's three-day visit comes a month after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited India. Hassan Rouhani paid inspected the guard of honour and tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat.

On his first visit after assuming office in 2013, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, who arrived in Hyderabad for a three-day India trip, will hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi.

Issues related to trade, security and connectivity, including the strategically-important Chabahar port will be discussed.

They also referred to Modi's recent visit to the UAE and other countries in the Gulf and West Asia, to highlight India's growing cooperation with countries in the region.

Asked if cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan will be raised, the sources said terrorism is a shared concern but whether any specific country will be mentioned, could not be stated. Also, whether India will seek Iran's help in the Kulbhushan Jadhav case given that it maintains that the retired Indian naval officer was kidnapped from Iran, the sources said Jadhav is not a bilateral issue between India and Iran.

The Trilateral Transit Agreement (Chabahar Agreement) was also signed by transport ministers of India, Iran and Afghanistan in the presence of Modi, Rouhani and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani.

The contract entails capital investment of USD 85 million by India for equipping Chabahar port in southeastern Iran. The strategically important port will open up the transit route for India to Iran and Afghanistan, bypassing Pakistan.

(With agency inputs)