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World / Middle East

Iran, Afghanistan, India sign three-way transit accord

Published: 23 May 2016 - 03:58 pm | Last Updated: 11 Nov 2021 - 04:54 am
Peninsula

A handout picture provided by the office of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on May 23, 2016 shows him (R) holding a press conference with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi following their meeting in Tehran.  AFP / IRANIAN PRESIDENCY


Tehran: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday signed a three-way transit agreement on Iran's southern port of Chabahar.

The accord, which calls for joint investments, will significantly boost the role of the undertapped port of Chabahar, connecting Iran through India and Afghanistan to central Asia, the Iranian presidency said on its website.

"Today is an important and historical day of development of relations between the three countries," Rouhani said in a televised speech, seated between the two other leaders.

"From Tehran, New Delhi and Kabul, this is a crucial message ... that the path to progress for regional countries goes through joint cooperation and utilising regional opportunities."

Modi said: "We want to link to the world, but connectivity among ourselves is also a priority."

"Our will starts from Chabahar today, but its end will be an all-out comprehensive development and economic-cultural cooperation," said Ghani.

AFP