Iranian Foreign Minister Heads to New Delhi Amid Regional Turmoil
Image Source: Internet
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi is set to visit New Delhi next week for high-level talks with Indian leaders. The visit, scheduled for January 15-16, comes amidst a rapidly shifting landscape in West Asia. Araghchi's trip marks his second to India, with his previous visit in May 2025 coinciding with India's four-day conflict with Pakistan. A key agenda item for the visit is advancing cooperation on the Chabahar port, a strategic facility in the Gulf of Oman that has emerged as a vital shipping route for goods from Afghanistan to India since Pakistan's closure of transit routes. The US granted a six-month waiver on sanctions applicable to the port in October 2024, allowing India to maintain its presence there. The visit will also provide an opportunity for Iran to discuss its response to recent protests in Tehran and other cities, which have resulted in the deaths of at least 14 people, including security forces. The protests have gained international attention following US President Donald Trump's warning of potential intervention if Iranian authorities harm peaceful protesters. As India assumes the chairmanship of the Brics grouping this year, cooperation with partners like Iran will be crucial in shaping the organization's agenda. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is expected to attend the Brics Summit in India later this year, where he will likely build on the momentum generated by Araghchi's visit. India's role as a global power and voice for the Global South makes it an influential player in regional developments, including the Gaza peace process. Iranian Ambassador Mohammad Fathali has highlighted India's potential to play a key role in this process, given its track record of promoting peace and stability worldwide.
