The National Security Adviser of India, MK Narayanan spoke about the country’s ties with Iran at the recently concluded IISS-Citi India Global Forum held in New Delhi. Speaking at the forum on Sunday 20 April, MK Narayanan pointed out that India and Iran shared civilizational and economic ties. He infact pointed out that the prominent Shia population of India provided it a special vantage point to engage with Iran. The National Security Advisor of India explained that Iran is a big country and it was pertinent for India to deal with the country diplomatically and carefully.

 

Since India is a neighbor of Iran and is home to a big Shia population, MK Narayanan underscored any mishandling will have negative repercussions on the country. As per the information provided by the Iranian diplomatic sources, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will visit to India on 29 April and spend seven hours in New Delhi. The last time that an Iranian head of state came to India was in 2003, when Mohammad Khatami was chief guest at the Republic Day parade that year.