Syria, trade figure in Krishna's talks with Iran counterpart

Ahead of the NAM ministerial meeting, external affairs minister SM Krishna today held bilateral talks with his Iranian counterpart Ali Akbar Salehi during which the two deliberated on the situation in Syria besides focussing on trade and economy.

Ahead of the NAM ministerial meeting, external affairs minister SM Krishna on Monday held bilateral talks with his Iranian counterpart Ali Akbar Salehi during which the two deliberated on the situation in Syria besides focussing on trade and economy.

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Krishna, who landed in Tehran in the afternoon raised a number of issues pertaining to bilateral relations and NAM, official sources privy to what transpired in the meeting said.

Asked for specifics, they said regional international issues were discussed including the situation in Syria.

Besides, the recently held trilateral meeting of India, Afghanistan and Iran, which was undertaken to brainstorm strategies for operating the crucial Chabahar port, was also discussed.

Meanwhile, the sources said Iran, which is backing the Bashar al-Assad regime despite strong opposition from the US, reiterated its stand on the issue.

Krishna, on his part too maintained India's stand opposing an externally-induced regime change in Syria.

India has maintained that it wants a Syrian-led, inclusive process for reform and change in Syria to bring an end to the current conflict.

India believes that the international community's role should be to assist that Syrian-led process and the UN has a particular role to play.

Krishna and Salehi also focussed on bilateral trade and economy during which payment mechanism was also discussed. The sources, however, did not elaborate further.

The two sides also discussed the modalities for setting up an Indian Cultural Centre in Tehran.

Krishna will take part in the NAM ministerial meeting on Tuesday. Krishna is scheduled to deliver an address at the meeting.