TEHRAN (IRNA) — Iranian Minister of Defence Brigadier General Amir Hatami held talks in New Delhi on Thursday with his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh on various issues.

Hatami left Iranian capital for New Delhi, India, on Tuesday afternoon to meet with Indian officials and attend Bangalore Air Show 2021. Hatami’s India visit is his first independent travel since the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran.

In his meeting with Rajnath Singh, General Hatami stressed the need to develop bilateral relations in the international and regional arenas as the two countries enjoy considerable capacities. He said southern strategic Iranian port of Chabahar is an opportunity for both countries to boost relations. Iran, India and Afghanistan signed Chabahar agreement in 2016. Chabahar, as Iran’s only oceanic port, plays an important role in developing trade, exports, and imports and in fishing as well.

The Indian defensce minister, for his part, said in the meeting that New Delhi and Tehran should preserve their historical ties which are growing.