Freshening Up Ties: Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi's Visit to India
Iran's Foreign Minister Holds Talks with S. Jaishankar Amidst Escalating India-Pakistan Tensions
Get ready for a diplomatic dance as Iran's top diplomat, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, lands in New Delhi starting tonight. On Thursday, he'll huddle with Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar, where they'll take the helm at the 20th India-Iran Joint Commission meeting.
This gathering comes at a time when India and Iran are celebrating the 75th anniversary of the India-Iran Friendship Treaty. Plans are afoot to delve into a plethora of bilateral issues, aiming to unearth new avenues and fortify existing relationships.
The Joint Commission, despite being an annual affair, has been a bit lax lately due to the COVID-19 pandemic and domestic commitments of the two nations. The Iranian Embassy in New Delhi reveals that the discussions will cover the latest status of the implementation of bilateral economic agreements between the two countries[2].
Post the bilateral meeting, the Iranian foreign minister is scheduled to pay a visit to President Droupadi Murmu at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Araghchi's visit coincides with the wave of tensions between India and Pakistan following a tragic terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed the lives of 26 innocent civilians. India retaliated with precise missile strikes on terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Iran has strictly denounced the religiously-inspired terror attack perpetrated by Pakistan-linked extremists. In a statement issued by Iran's foreign minister himself, Tehran expressed grief for the victims and offered condolences to the Indian people and government[3].
Additionally, Iran has expressed concern over the escalating military tensions between India and Pakistan, urging both sides to restrain themselves. The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson emphasized that Iran maintains long-standing ties with both New Delhi and Islamabad and is watching the current situation closely[3].
Earlier this week, Araghchi visited Pakistan, leading a political delegation and engaging in talks with Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.
The nuances of Iran's stance on India-Pakistan tensions are not explicitly discussed, but historically, Iran generally adopts a neutral position in regional conflicts while focusing on fostering economic ties with its neighbors. Thus, it's likely that Iran aims to maintain a diplomatic balance while tending to its economic interests with both India and Pakistan.
Sources:
- Iran See Opportunities In Improving Ties With India
- Iran's Araghchi to Hold talks With India on Boosting Ties
- Iran Condemns Pahalgam Attack, Expresses Concern over Indo-Pak Tensions
- Cementing India-Iran ties amid Changing Geopolitical Reality
- The 20th India-Iran Joint Commission meeting, scheduled for Thursday, will supposedly delve into a range of bilateral issues between the two countries, aiming to strengthen existing relationships and discover new avenues.
- Prior to his meeting with Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar, Iran's top diplomat, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, is reported to have visited Pakistan, leading a political delegation and engaging in talks with Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.
- Despite the escalating war-and-conflicts tensions between India and Pakistan, Iran has maintained a neutral position, condemning the Pahalgam attack and expressing condolences to the Indian people and government while also urging both sides to restrain themselves.
- Amidst the changing geopolitical reality, the Tehran-New Delhi relationship is on the rise, as general news outlets have reported that Iran sees opportunities in improving ties with India, with the 75th anniversary of the India-Iran Friendship Treaty serving as an important milestone in their history.
