Iran to seek enhanced defence ties with India during SCO defence ministers meet

New Delhi: Defense Minister of Iran Mohammad Reza Gharaei Ashtiani is visiting India this week for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Defense Ministers' Meeting. On the sidelines of the meet, he will hold bilateral talks with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in which it is likely that he will seek to enhance security and defence partnership with India, especially between the navies of both countries.

According to official sources, both the countries have been discussing ways to foster greater partnership between the two naval forces even as the region sees increasing instability and terrorist activities.

Both sides are also planning to bolster their partnership by way of greater military industry collaboration even as India has become concerned over the recent China-brokered peace deal between Tehran and Riyadh.

Iranian ambassador Iraj Elahi has also emphasised on the importance of the growing defence relations between Iran and India, which includes the regular engagements between the militaries of two nations.

"The defence relations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Republic of India are going through a growing process in the framework of the comprehensive relations between the two countries," said Elahi at the Iran Army day celebrations recently in New Delhi.

The SCO defence ministers meet will take place on 27-28th April in Delhi. It will see the in-person participation of the Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu, Chinese defense minister Li Shangfu and other central Asian member countries. Pakistan will be present virtually at the meet.

The SCO is an inter-governmental organisation comprising eight-member states, including China, Russia, India, and Pakistan.

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