“Foreign Secretary is visiting Iran for the 16th Foreign Office consultation on 15-16 September,” the Ministry’s spokesperson said on Saturday evening.
IRAN NEWS NATIONAL DESK
Gokhale yesterday met with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif to review bilateral relations.
The two countries are expected to discuss very important issues such as Iran crude sales to India, the status of the nuclear deal and other points that are deemed as important and are crucial in their bilateral relations.
During his visit, he will also hold consultations with his Iranian counterpart Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi.
Iran is the third largest oil supplier to India after Saudi Arabia and Iraq.
Iran had become a burgeoning source for Indian agriculture exports and according to the Iranian Ambassador to India Ali Chengeni, it was keen on importing steel, tea and fresh fruits.
Earlier this week, Ambassador Ali Chegeni had said India’s decision to “zero out” oil purchases would also affect India-Iran trade and mean that Iran would seek “other markets” to import goods from and supply LNG to. Mr. Chegeni also said despite New Delhi’s promises to expedite development of the Chabahar port, the construction and trade was “very slow”.
The issues are likely to be discussed during Mr. Gokhale’s visit, as well as the new scenario likely between the U.S. and Iran after the exit of U.S. NSA John Bolton. A day after Mr. Bolton was sacked, the U.S. government announced that U.S. President Trump had asked for talks with Iranian President Rouhani on the sidelines of the UNGA summit next week “without any conditions”.
Political experts say Indian Government a would have been best advised to continue to purchase oil from Iran despite the sanctions imposed on that country after the Trump administration tore up the Iran nuclear deal signed by the United States and other key power.
