Iran Press/Iran news: The Indian government said in a statement on Monday that Indian 'SPV' company has taken over operations of the strategic 'Chabahar port' in 'Sistan-Balochistan' province of energy-rich Iran's southern coast.
India's Shipping Ministry issued a statement said: "The Government of India took over the operations in part of 'Shahid Beheshti' Port, Chabahar, in Iran during the Chabahar Trilateral Agreement meeting held there on 24 December 2018, Iran Press reported.
The physical take-over of the terminal area, cargo handling equipment and Office building was completed by 29 December 2018."
"This step marks the beginning of a long journey. India has written a history with its engagement in Chabahar Port and is now leading the regional cooperation and joint efforts to support land locked Afghanistan. This is the first time India will be operating a port outside its territories," the Indian government's statement added.
India started interacting with Iran on Chabahar Port around 2003 but a major push was received in the second half of 2014, resulting in the signing of an MoU between the two countries.
The statement added that the challenges facing the contract between Iran and India were resolved through a formal short term contract between the two sides which was signed on May 6, 2018 during the visit of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to New Delhi.
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The Indian government's statement came on Monday when the Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zari left Tehran for New Delhi for a three-day visit.
Heading a high-ranking politico-economic delegation, Mohammad Javad Zarif is scheduled for a three-day visit to India to participate in a joint business forum attended by the businessmen of the two countries, and deliver a speech at the annual "Raisina Dialogue" conference in New Delhi.
India, Iran’s second biggest oil customer after China, has been granted a sanctions waiver to import some 300,000 barrels per day of Iranian oil for 180 days, starting from 5 November 2018.
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