NEW DELHI, May 9 – External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi co-chaired the 20th India-Iran Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) in New Delhi on Thursday, reaffirming the deep and multifaceted relationship between the two countries on the 75th anniversary of their diplomatic ties.
The meeting covered a broad spectrum of bilateral cooperation, including trade and economic relations, agriculture, healthcare, cultural exchanges, connectivity, and people-to-people links.
Addressing the opening session, Jaishankar said, “It’s a great pleasure to welcome you and your delegation to India and to co-chair the 20th India-Iran Joint Commission meeting today. In recent years, our cooperation has progressed in many aspects. There are also situations that we need to address.”
Recalling past high-level engagements, Jaishankar noted, “Prime Minister Modi and President Pezeshkian met in Kazan in October 2024 and spoke again on April 26. This is the 75th anniversary of our diplomatic ties—a reminder of the closeness of our collaboration and the deep friendship between us.”
During the meeting, the Indian delegation briefed the Iranian side on the cross-border linkages of the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. Both sides unequivocally condemned terrorism in all its forms and called for stronger regional cooperation to counter the threat.
Jaishankar also referenced India’s measured military response—Operation Sindoor—in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, stating, “India’s response to the Pahalgam attack was targeted and proportionate. Let me be clear—any future military aggression will be met with a firm response.”
The two sides signed key Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), including one on Medical Products Regulation and another on the implementation of a Bilateral Agreement on Customs Cooperation.
The Ministry of External Affairs stated that both countries “agreed to adopt a humanitarian approach to issues concerning prisoners, fishermen, seafarers and students,” and reaffirmed commitment to strengthening coordination in multilateral forums.
During his visit, Foreign Minister Araghchi also called on President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
“Welcoming Araghchi, the President noted that while civilisational and cultural ties between India and Iran go back thousands of years, this visit is taking place on the special occasion of the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations,” the President’s Secretariat posted on X.
Araghchi held additional meetings with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and was received by MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, who underlined the significance of the visit in sustaining strategic cooperation between the two nations.
