Iran, India slam states aiding terror

Visiting Iranian President Hassan Rouhani held detailed talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday following which India and Iran signed nine pacts including one for a lease contract as part of the first phase of the Chabahar port development which will lead to a strategic sea-land route linking India with Iran, Afghanistan and Central Asia. Importantly, the two countries condemned terrorism and said — in what is being seen as a veiled reference towards Pakistan — that “States that aid, abet and directly or indirectly support terrorism should be condemned.”

During the talks between the two leaders, India is also believed to have briefed Iran about the role of Pakistansponsored terrorism in attempts to destabilise the situation in Kashmir. Afghanistan was another major issue discussed during talks, with both India and Iran opposed to the attempts of the Taliban to destabilise the situation in Afghanistan. “Iran and India have a common stance on confronting terrorism and extremism,” President Rouhani said.

Rouhani said Iran was “fully ready” to intensify cooperation in the areas of energy, particularly oil, gas and petrochemicals.

In strengthening ties with oil-rich Iran, India is attempting to balance out the strong ties it has on the other hand with both the US and Israel.

On all major bilateral, regional and international issues, we (India) did not disagree on even a single topic — HASSAN ROUHANI , Iranian President