Swaraj arrives in Iran with an aim to boost ties

April 16, 2016 19:40

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj arrived in Iran today on a two-day visit to boost ties with a focus on raising India's oil imports and enhancing trade with the powerful Persian Gulf nation which has opened several lucrative sectors after sanctions against it were lifted under a historic nuclear deal.

The visit to the oil-rich country comes amid a rush for investment in the resource-rich nation by global economic powers including Japan, China, the US and several European countries after Iran invited foreign companies for joint ventures in many of its crucial sectors including oil and gas.

Swaraj was received at the Mehrabad International Airport by Rasul Islami, Director General (South Asia) in Iran's Foreign Ministry and Indian Ambassador Saurabh Kumar.

Swaraj's visit is seen as a balancing act by India as it came nearly two weeks after Prime Minister Narendra Modi travelled to Saudi Arabia, another West Asian power which considers Iran its rival.

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