Following Iran’s recent inclusion in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) under India’s presidency, President Ebrahim Raisi held a meeting with his top ministers to discuss the Chabahar Port and the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) development plans.
During the meeting in Tehran, Raisi emphasized the significance of the Chabahar Port in connecting Central Asia to international waters, referencing statements made by leaders at the SCO Heads of State Summit hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. PM Modi highlighted the importance of robust connectivity for regional progress while respecting the sovereignty and regional integrity of member states.
PM Modi also expressed the potential for maximizing the utilization of the Chabahar Port and utilizing the INSTC as a secure and efficient route for landlocked Central Asian nations to access the Indian Ocean after Iran’s SCO membership.
Raisi stressed the activation of joint commissions for cooperation with other countries to strengthen relations with friendly neighboring nations during the cabinet meeting.
In a separate meeting, India’s Deputy National Security Advisor Vikram Misri and Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian discussed the strategic significance of the Chabahar Port and explored possibilities for enhanced cooperation between the two countries.
Tripartite negotiations involving India, Russia, and Iran aimed to address existing infrastructural and administrative challenges related to the INSTC.
The SCO now encompasses India, China, Russia, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Iran, and Pakistan, covering a significant portion of Eurasia. India has actively advocated for leveraging the Chabahar Port and integrating it into the INSTC framework to enhance connectivity for landlocked Central Asian countries.
The extensive North-South trade corridor, spanning 7,200 km and linking Mumbai with West Asia, Central Asia, Caucasia, and Russia, aims to connect the Russian city of Saint Petersburg with the ports of Iran and India.
India assumed the SCO chairmanship during the Samarkand Summit in September, and Iran transitioned from observer status to full membership. The admission process for Belarus into the organization has also been expedited.
