Iranian President Due in India Thursday


TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani plans to start his official visit to India on Thursday as part of efforts to boost bilateral relations between the two countries, the deputy head for communications and information at the Iranian president’s office said.

Heading a high-ranking delegation, President Rouhani will leave Tehran for India on Thursday morning at the official invitation of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Parviz Esmaeili said.

At the beginning of his three-day trip, which is aimed at strengthening bilateral relations between Tehran and New Delhi, the Iranian president would visit Hyderabad, the capital of India's southern state of Telangana, the official noted.

Esmaeili further said attending a meeting with the Muslim scholars in southern India, visiting the cultural and religious centers of Hyderabad, and meeting with Iranian expatriates in the South Asian country is on the agenda of the president’s trip.

Iran and India, two major members of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), have increased efforts in recent years to establish closer trade ties.

The two countries have recently signed a deal worth 2 billion US dollars for cooperation in the rail sector.

India is one of the major customers of Iran’s crude oil.