I/II. http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2015/05/05/409575/Iran-India-Chabahar-port-
India to develop Iran port despite US pressure HomeIranEconomy Tue May 5, 2015 2:2PM A ship is being loaded at Chabahar Port in southeast Iran. In a bold defiance of the US warnings, India is poised to sign an agreement with Iran for the development of the strategic Chabahar Port in southeast Iran. "[India's Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin] Gadkari is scheduled to visit Iran on May 5. During his visit India and Iran may sign a memorandum of understanding for development of Chabahar Port," Press Trust of India (PTI) reported. Iran and India agreed in 2003 to develop Chabahar Port, which lies near Iran's border with Pakistan. Last year, India's cabinet approved the development plan. ***The announcement comes nearly a week after the US warned India and others against boosting ties with Iran ahead of a final nuclear deal expected between Tehran and six world powers.*** [Emphasis added.] However, ***Indian officials have said New Delhi should focus on its national interests*** [emphasis added]. "We don't want to miss this opportunity and will move as expeditiously as possible," an Indian official said. Chabahar Port would cut transport costs and freight time for India to Central Asia and the Persian Gulf by about a third. The port would largely help India to get around Pakistan and open up a route to landlocked Afghanistan where it has developed close economic interests. India has already spent about $100 million to build a 220-km (140-mile) road in western Afghanistan to link up with Chabahar Port. Khalid Khan, regional head of the Federation of Indian Export Organisations, said Chabahar Port will help India export more to the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Experts from Iran and the P5+1 group of countries - the US, Russia, Germany, France, Britain and China - are currently in New York to try to work out a draft agreement over the Islamic Republic's nuclear program. According to reports, the negotiations are planned to resume in the Austrian capital, Vienna, on May 12. Iran and the P5+1 group of countries reached mutual understanding on the parameters of a comprehensive agreement over the Islamic Republic's nuclear program in the Swiss city of Lausanne on April 2. Iran and the six-party group have agreed to finalize a comprehensive deal on the nuclear program by the end of June. KA/KA II. https://themuslimissue.wordpress.com/2015/05/06/india-bends-to-savagery-and-greed-signs-port-deal-with-iran-ignoring-warnings/ MUSLIMS WORLDWIDE India Bends to Savagery and Greed: Signs Port Deal with Iran, Ignoring Warnings Posted on May 6, 2015 by ADMIN India to Sign Port Deal with Iran, Ignoring US Warnings Against Haste: Report NDTV | Agencies | Updated: May 05, 2015 17:10 IST ***India will push ahead this week with plans to build a port in southeast Iran, two sources said, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi keen to develop trade ties with Central Asia and prepared to fend off US pressure not to rush into any deals with Iran.*** [Emphasis added.] India and Iran agreed in 2003 to develop a port at Chabahar on the Gulf of Oman, near Iran's border with Pakistan, but the venture has made little progress because of Western sanctions on Iran. Now, spurred on by Chinese President Xi Jinping's signing of energy and infrastructure agreements with Pakistan worth $46 billion, PM Modi wants to swiftly sign trade deals with Iran and other Gulf countries. "Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari will travel on a day-long tour to Iran to sign a memorandum of understanding for development of Chabahar port," a shipping ministry source with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters. The deal will be signed on Wednesday, he said. India's cabinet approved the plan to develop Chabahar port last year. Encouraged by the prospect of a deal between world powers and Tehran by June 30 on Iran's nuclear programme, after which sanctions could be eased, India recently sent a delegation to Iran to scout for trade, energy and infrastructure deals. The United States cautioned India and others last week against strengthening ties with Iran ahead of a final agreement. But Indian officials said New Delhi could not ignore its national interest and noted a report that a US energy delegation was visiting Iran. "We don't want to miss this opportunity and will move as expeditiously as possible," the shipping ministry source said. India wants to build the port as it would cut transport costs and freight time to Central Asia and the Gulf by about a third. The port is also central to India's efforts to circumvent Pakistan and open up a route to landlocked Afghanistan where it has developed close security ties and economic interests. India has already spent about $100 million to construct a 10-mile road in western Afghanistan to link up with Chabahar port. Last week, PM Modi assured Afghan President Ashraf Ghani of India's commitment to building the port. Chabahar is just along the coast from Gwadar port in Pakistan that is being developed with China's help, said Robin Mills, head of consulting at Dubai-based Manaar Energy. "So there is a strategic element for the Indian side". -- Peace Is Doable -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send an email to [email protected]. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
