Tehran: Narendra Modi who is the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Iran in fifteen years, was accorded a ceremonial welcome by President Hassan Rouhani in a historic meet on Monday, following which he exchanged ideas with the President in a restricted tete-a-tete.
Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar was also present in the meeting. President Rouhani will also host a luncheon for Modi later during the day.
Modi was received by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on the forecourts of Saadabad Palace - the seat of executive in Iran.
Military bands played national anthems of the two countries after which Modi inspected guard of honour.
Building an enduring partnership. PM @narendramodi and President Rouhani exchange ideas at a restricted tete-a-tete pic.twitter.com/yX6uCwb2mK
— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) May 23, 2016
Following this, the two leaders had a 30-minute restricted meeting to discuss bilateral issues of strategic and business importance.
Read: Modi meets Rouhani in Tehran, commits huge investment in Chabahar port
Several agreements of economic and strategic importance and Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on a series of projects are also expected to be signed between both sides.
The trilateral agreement on connectivity of India with landlocked Afghanistan through the Iranian port of Chabahar will also be signed in the presence of Prime Minister Modi, President Rouhani and Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani.
Prime Minister Modi and President Rouhani will later jointly address the press, highlighting the developments.
Read: Lifting of sanctions on Iran opens immense opportunities: Narendra Modi
Modi was received at the Mehrabad International Airport by Iran's Finance and Economic Affairs Minister Ali Tayyebnia, after which he left for a local Gurudwara to meet people of Indian origin here.
Modi will also call on Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khomeini as well before his return.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi with President Rouhani of Iran
Yesterday, Modi started his Tehran visit with a visit to a Gurudwara.
“It is my pleasure that my 2-day visit to Iran has started with me seeking blessing from Guru Granth Sahib,” Modi said, speaking at the Bhai Ganga Singh Sabha Gurudwara in Tehran.
“Reached Iran, a land with whom India shares civilisational ties. Hope to enhance economic partnership between our nations. I also hope my Iran visit further cements cultural and people-to-people ties between India and Iran,” he tweeted after landing in Iran.
WATCH: Ceremonial welcome for PM Narendra Modi in Tehran. #ModiInIranhttps://t.co/5RJWbCLel2
— ANI (@ANI_news) May 23, 2016
