Iran’s President-elect meets India’s Foreign minister

The foreign minister of India on Wednesday made a halt in Tehran en route to Moscow to meet Iran’s President-elect Ebrahim Raisi and his counterpart in what is India’s first in-person meeting with the newly elected head of state.

Jaishankar also handed over a letter from PM Narendra Modi to Raisi as New Delhi and Tehran seek to coordinate their plans amid a resurgence of the Taliban in Afghanistan. This was also India’s first in-person meeting with the Iranian leadership following the revival of nuclear talks between Tehran and the global powers. India may look to fully revive its trade links with Iran if the sanctions are lifted by the US.

“Thank President-elect Ebrahim Raisi for his gracious welcome. Handed over a personal message from PM @narendramodi. Appreciate his warm sentiments for India. Deeply value his strong commitment to strengthen our bilateral ties and expand cooperation on regional and global issues,” Jaishankar tweeted.

Thank President-elect Ebrahim Raisi for his gracious welcome. Handed over a personal message from PM @narendramodi.… https://t.co/6p8NmBb6kX

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) 1625665551000

The evolving situation in Kabul is understood to have figured during the meetings in Tehran with India closely monitoring the situation on the ground in Afghanistan. It may be recalled that India worked closely with Iran and Russia to back the Northern Alliance during the 1996-2001 Taliban rule.