Top Indian Diplomat to Visit Tehran

Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar will embark on a two-day visit to Iran from Sunday and co-chair the 19th Joint Commission Meeting with his Iranian counterpart, Mohammad Javad Zarif.
Jaishankar is also expected to call upon Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, the External Affairs Ministry said in a statement on Saturday, Hindustan Times reported.
The meeting comes days after the US provided an exemption to India from sanctions on Chabahar Port in Iran, as Washington said it recognized that the strategic project was a lifeline for war-torn Afghanistan to get humanitarian supplies from India.
Chabahar Port, which is being jointly developed by India, Iran and Afghanistan, is considered a gateway to golden opportunities for trade with Central Asian nations by the three countries. It is located on the Indian Ocean in Sistan-Baluchestan Province of Iran.
Jaishankar will also visit Oman from Dec. 23-25 at the invitation of Omani Foreign Minister Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, the External Affairs Ministry said in another statement.