PM Narendra Modi back in New Delhi after 'fruitful' Iran visit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in New Delhi late on 23 May after concluding his two-day state visit to Iran.

Expressing his gratitude towards the government and people of Iran before leaving for India, the Prime Minister tweeted: "I thank the wonderful people of Iran for the warmth. My Iran visit was fruitful and the outcomes will positively impact our nations."

"During this visit I held productive discussions with the top leadership of Iran. We are committed to seeing our ties grow even further," the PM said in another tweet.

The Prime Minister, who paid a state visit to Iran at the invitation of Iranian President Dr Hassan Rouhani, called on the Supreme Leader Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Hosseini Khamenei on 23 May and gifted him a reproduction of a rare seventh-century manuscript of the Holy Quran - attributed to Hazrat Ali, the fourth caliph. Written in Kufic script, this manuscript is a prized possession of the Ministry of Culture's Rampur Raza Library.

PM Modi then held talks with President Rouhani following his official welcome in an impressive ceremony. President Rouhani also hosted a lunch in honour of Prime Minister Modi. The Prime Minister also gifted President Dr Rouhani reproductions of Ghalib's collection of poetry in Persian 'Kulliyat-e-Farsi-e-Ghalib', as well as Sumair Chand's Persian translation of Ramayana.

Prime Minister Modi and President Rouhani witnessed the signing of 12 agreements between the two nations, including the signing of a bilateral contract on Chabahar Port for port development and operations between India Ports Global Private Limited (IPGPL) and Arya Banader of Iran; an MoU between EXIM Bank and Iran's Ports and Maritime Organisation (PMO) specifying the current terms of credit line for Chabahar Port Project and a confirmation statement between EXIM Bank and Central Bank of Iran on Projects in Iran.

- ANI