Mohammad Fathali, Iran's newly appointed ambassador to India, said that the country is willing to increase cooperation with India on counter-terrorism and regional instability on Tuesday. He further said that keeping in mind the sovereignty of both nations and respecting the independent policies pursued by each nation, there was scope for Iran and India to share expertise in tackling extremist violence, Hindustan Times reported.
What did the Iranian ambassador say?
The Iranian ambassador said there was significant scope for cooperation on new initiatives in areas such as emerging technologies, renewable energy, academic and scientific partnerships, and cultural exchanges, in an interview with PTI.
Ambassador Fathali said, "Terrorism and regional instability are areas where Iran and India can expand cooperation, with full respect for each other's independent policies and national interests," while referring to Operation Sindoor, which India conducted in the month of May, and Iran's own regional tensions.
Also Read | Denmark delivers its last letter as PostNord ends 400-year-old mail service
He further said, "Iran has long been a victim of terrorism and has paid a heavy price in confronting extremist violence. In this fight, we have lost many of our best commanders and soldiers, which reflects the seriousness of our commitment to countering terrorism."
Fathali said Iran has developed strong experience in counter-terrorism and is willing to share its expertise with "friendly partners."
'Will start new efforts'
Ambassador Fathali has said that he would focus on continuing the work commenced by his predecessor. He also said that he would be starting new efforts in renewable energy, emerging technologies, academic and scientific cooperation, and cultural diplomacy.
The Ambassador told PTI, "My priority will be to ensure continuity and further build on these valuable achievements. Strengthening regular political dialogue, expanding economic and cultural cooperation, and enhancing engagement between the private sectors of the two countries will remain key areas of focus."
Also Read | US Immigration gets pricier in 2026, plan your budget NOW
India-Iran trade
Trade between India and Iran remains much lower than in the past, largely because of US sanctions on Iran. In 2024, total trade stood at around USD 2.3 billion, with India exporting goods worth USD 1.25 billion and importing USD 1.06 billion from Iran.
This marks a sharp drop of about 87 per cent from the peak level of nearly USD 17 billion in 2018-19, when crude oil made up most of India's imports. India stopped buying crude oil from Iran in May 2019 after the US ended sanction waivers.
