BSS
  05 May 2025, 15:47

Iran's foreign minister to visit India

NEW DELHI, May 5, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi 
will visit India on Thursday, its embassy in New Delhi said, days after 
visiting Pakistan where he held talks with senior government officials.

Iran has offered to act as a mediator between India and Pakistan as tensions 
between the two neighbours surge after an attack in Indian-administered 
Kashmir.

Araghchi last week "declared Iran's readiness to extend its goodwill efforts 
to help reduce tensions", in a phone call with his Pakistani counterpart 
Ishaq Dar.

Iran was "ready to use its good offices" to resolve the conflict, said the 
diplomat, who was in Islamabad on Monday for an official visit.

India and Iran have warm ties, at the same time as New Delhi pursues greater 
security cooperation with Tehran's arch-rival Washington.

New Delhi and Tehran last year signed a contract to develop and equip the 
long-stalled Chabahar port project in Iran, prompting Washington to warn that 
Indian firms working on the project risked sanctions.

Araghchi will be the first senior foreign diplomat to visit both India and 
Pakistan after the attack on April 22 in which 26 men were killed.

India has blamed Pakistan for backing the gunmen who carried out the attack.

Islamabad has rejected the charge, and both countries have since exchanged 
gunfire across their contested de facto border in Kashmir.