EAM Jaishankar calls on Iranian President in Tehran, to strengthen bilateral ties

Both the leaders discussed bilateral and regional issues. This is the second meeting between Raisi and Jaishankar in a month. EAM Jaishankar met Raisi, then president-elect, on July 7 during a stopover at the Iranian capital on his way to Russia.

New Delhi:External Affairs Minister Dr Jaishankar on Friday called on newly-elected Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi. Jaishankar met Raisi a day after he was sworn in as the country's President.

Both the leaders discussed bilateral and regional issues. This is the second meeting between Raisi and Jaishankar in a month. EAM Jaishankar met Raisi, then president-elect, on July 7 during a stopover at the Iranian capital on his way to Russia.

"A warm meeting with President Ebrahim Raisi after he assumed office. Conveyed the personal greetings of PM @narendramodi.His commitment to strengthening our bilateral relationship was manifest. So too was the convergence in our regional interests", minister Jaishankar tweeted.

EAM Jaishankar represented India at the swearing-ceremony of Raisi. Ebrahim Raisi, a hardline cleric is known to be close to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. He assumed office during a ceremony at the Parliament that was attended by leaders from various countries.

After meeting Jaishankar, the Iranian President said that India and Iran can play a constructive and useful role in ensuring security in the region, especially in Afghanistan, and that Tehran welcomes New Delhi’s role in the war-torn country.

In June, PM Modi congratulated Raisi and said he looked forward to working together to further strengthen the bilateral ties between India and Iran.

Iran is an important ally to India in the region and for access to Afghanistan. Both the sides have been playing a constructive role for peace to prevail in Afghanistan.

The meeting between the leaders can be viewed as significant against the backdrop of the US troops withdrawal with the Taliban pushing its offensiveness in the war-torn country living thousands of civilians dead.