NEW DELHI: In a surprise visit, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Saturday stopped over in Tehran for a short lunch meeting with her counterpart Javad Zarif. "Reinforcing our traditionally close and civilisational linkages, EAM @SushmaSwaraj had a luncheon meeting with the Foreign Minister of Iran Dr Javad Zarif in #Tehran. Both sides discussed issues of mutual interest," MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted. He refuted the suggestion that the visit was "unscheduled", saying it had been planned as a "technical" stopover.The two ministers are understood to have reviewed the implementation of the Chabahar port project in which India is a key partner. The port is likely to increase trade between India, Afghanistan and Iran in the wake of Pakistan denying transit access to New Delhi for trade with the two countries.

Source: Times of India December 03, 2017 00:56 UTC