‘Satisfied’ with action against BJP spokespersons: Iran

Iran is “satisfied” that the Indian government has dealt with those responsible for the comments on the prophet Mohammed, where the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) sacked two spokespersons over the weekend, said Iranian foreign minister during official meetings in Delhi on Wednesday. Hussain Amir Abdullahiyan said. The first such visit by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to a country since the start of the dispute. On Sunday, the Iranian foreign ministry called on the Indian ambassador to condemn the remarks, one of more than a dozen countries opposed bilaterally.

Mr Abdullahian, who is on his first visit to India after being appointed last year, met National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and held bilateral talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, where the two sides signed an agreement on mutual legal assistance . Civil and commercial matters. He also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who “recalls the long-standing civilizational and cultural ties between India and Iran”, an official statement said, adding that the prime minister met the Iranian president at an “early date”. Looking forward to welcoming Ibrahim Raisi. The visiting foreign minister will be in Mumbai on Thursday and will then travel to Hyderabad.

,[We] Reviewed our bilateral cooperation including trade, connectivity, health and people-to-people ties,” Mr. Jaishankar said in a tweet after the talks, adding that they exchanged views on global and regional issues, including the 6-nation 2015 nuclear deal. – was provided. The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Afghanistan and Ukraine.

Doval’s assurance

In a statement issued in Farsi, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said Mr Doval had assured that those making offensive remarks would be dealt with “at the level of the government and relevant agencies in a manner that is a lesson to others.”

The statement said the two sides discussed proposals on trade and investment, particularly along the Chabahar port, the International North South Transport Corridor, adding that Mr Abdullahiyan had announced that Iran had There is “no restriction” on the extension of the relationship. However, the statement did not specify whether India and Iran would discuss resumption of certain trade and investment deals in energy, including oil supplies from Iran, and Indian investments in Iranian oil and gas reserves, both in 2019. I came to a standstill. Following the threat of sanctions by the US Trump administration.

time critical

The timing of the foreign minister’s visit assumes significance as Iran is in conflict with the International Atomic Energy Agency this week, as the IAEA Board of Governors is meeting in Vienna until 10 June, where a report on Iran’s nuclear record is being discussed. Is. After the US, France, Germany and the UK condemned Iran’s nuclear technology progress and “inadequate cooperation” with the IAEA, Iran’s Atomic Energy Board announced on Wednesday that it would launch IAEA cameras at the nuclear site in protest. shutting down.

Statements did not elaborate on the nature of the discussion on Afghanistan, but Mr Abdullahiyan was received at the airport by Joint Secretary (Iran Pakistan Afghanistan) JP Singh, the official who traveled to Kabul last week to meet with Taliban officials. Including the Taliban. Mottaki, the acting foreign minister of the Taliban.

The Iranian foreign minister’s visit comes a week after Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz’s visit, in a sign that India is attempting to strike a balance between the two West Asian rivals, who are also disputing Iran’s nuclear programme. . Mr Modi had also met Mr Gantz during his visit to India, and Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, who had to postpone his visit to India in March this year because he contracted COVID, is expected to arrive in the next few months. are supposed to. Too.