Rouhani pays tribute at Rajghat, to hold talks with PM Modi


Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Saturday paid floral tributes at Rajghat, ahead of holding bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Winding up his two-day Hyderabad visit, Rouhani arrived in the national capital late Friday night and was accorded a ceremonial reception.

On Saturday morning, he headed to Mahatma Gandhi’s memorial to lay a wreath and pay homage to father of the nation.

Rouhani is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on key areas like trade, connectivity, banking and energy, officials said.

Rouhani will also be calling on President Ram Nath Kovind later in the day.

On a three-day visit to India at the invitation of Modi, Rouhani addressed Muslim leaders and scholars in Hyderabad on Thursday night and also visited Qutub Shahi tombs, a historic site.

The visiting dignitary later offered prayers at historic Makkah Masjid in the old city and addressed the congregation.

This is the first visit by Rouhani, who is the seventh President of Iran, after taking charge in August 2013.

India and Iran have collaborated on many key projects with the most notable being Chabahar port in southeastern Iran that was inaugurated on December 3, 2017 by Rouhani.

The port bypasses Pakistan, opening up a new strategic transit route between Iran, India and Afghanistan.