Nitin Gadkari Was in Tehran for the Iranian President's Second Term Inauguration

Nitin Gadkari Shipping, Road and Transport minister represented India at the inauguration of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani's second term in Tehran. The selection of Nitin Gadkari for this strategic trip gave strong signals of commitment to the critical Chabahar port. Government of India had inked some major commitments and pacts with Iran last year.

Mr Gadkari was influential in the final stages of negotiations over multiple berths at the strategically located Chabahar Port on the Gulf of Oman that India has promised to build and operate for the next decade, and Iranian officials are known to respect him.

But the shipping and road transport minister's visit also coincides with a dip in ties following delays in the timeline India was to follow for the development of the port, and tensions over a gas field that New Delhi wants but Tehran is bargaining hard over.