Raeisi: Iran, India should prioritize collective security, close economic ties in bilateral interactions

President-elect Ebrahim Raeisi has highlighted the role of Iran and India as two influential players in the region, saying collective security and broad economic cooperation are among the top priorities in ties between the two countries.

“Collective security with the participation of regional countries, including Iran and India as two important players in the region besides extensive economic interactions are among the important priorities in relations between the two countries,” Raeisi said in a meeting Indian Minister of External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar in Tehran on Wednesday.

He added that “stable and lasting” relations between Tehran and New Delhi, especially in the economic field, depended on regulating the bilateral ties in a manner that they would solely serve the two countries’ national interests.

Raeisi said the US “maximum pressure” policy against Iran had failed, as acknowledged by the Americans themselves, and the Islamic Republic would continue down its path to progress vigorously.

Elsewhere in his remarks, the Iranian president-elect expressed Tehran’s support for stability, security and peace in Afghanistan.

Iran has on several occasions reaffirmed its support for measures and talks aimed at establishing peace and ending the conflict in war-battered Afghanistan.

Iran-India cooperation against challenges a must: India FM

The Indian foreign minister, for his part, said it was vital for Tehran and New Delhi, as two close regional partners, to work together to tackle different challenges.

Iran, India call for all-inclusive intra-Afghan talks to resolve Afghanistan crisis

Iran and India highlight the need for promotion of intra-Afghan talks toward inclusive political participation of all parties in Afghanistan.

Jaishankar pointed to the very critical situation in Afghanistan and urged all the country’s neighbors to boost cooperation in an effort to help resolve the crisis in the war-torn country.

He handed over Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s message to Raeisi and said the premier had expressed confidence that strong mutual relations would continue to grow under the next Iranian administration.

The Indian foreign minister also said Modi had officially invited the Iranian president-elect to pay a visit to New Delhi.

“Appreciate [Raeisi’s] warm sentiments for India. Deeply value his strong commitment to strengthen our bilateral ties and expand cooperation on regional and global issues,” Jaishankar tweeted after his meeting.

Earlier in the day, Jaishankar held talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in Tehran, which hosted a round of talks among Afghan groups. The two top diplomats underlined the need for the promotion of intra-Afghan talks which could culminate in inclusive political participation of all parties in Afghanistan.

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