Iran Defense Minister Visits India This Week For SCO Meet: Ambassador Iraj Elahi

Iraj Elahi, the Iranian diplomat, said that Iran’s Defense Minister Mohammad Reza Gharaei Ashtiani will go to India this week for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Defense Ministers’ Meeting. Elahi said that the growing defense ties between Iran and India, which include regular meetings between the two countries’ armies, are very important.

“The defense ties between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Republic of India are growing as part of the overall ties between the two countries,” Elahi said at the events for Iran Army Day in New Delhi.

“I also hope that the visit of the Honorable Minister of Defense of the Islamic Republic of Iran to India will help develop and strengthen defense relations between the two countries in a dynamic bilateral and multilateral way.”

During his trip to Delhi, Minister Ashtiani will meet one-on-one with his Indian, Belarusian, Chinese, and Tajik colleagues.

At the Delhi SCO Summit in July of this year, Iran will become a full member of the group.

On April 27 and 28, the SCO defense ministers will meet in Delhi. The Russian defense minister, Sergei Shoigu, the Chinese defense minister, Li Shangfu, and other central Asian member countries will be there in person. Pakistan will pretty much be there at the meeting.

The SCO is a group of eight governments that work together. China, Russia, India, and Pakistan are all members.

In his speech, the Iranian ambassador stressed how important a strong military defense plan is to keeping the area safe and stable.

Ambassador Elahi said, “The armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran have become a key part of keeping the area safe and stable.”

“Our military strategy is based on active deterrence and is all about defense. We are not a warlike country, but we will stop any attack with determination.”

He also talked about how countries in the area need to be responsible for their own safety.

Ambassador Elahi said, “The Islamic Republic of Iran has always put a lot of importance on the security of the West Asian region by the countries in the region.”

“We think that the instability in the area is caused by the presence and interference of other powers.”

Lt. Gen. Dinesh Singh Rana, who is the head of India’s Defense Intelligence Agency, was the event’s most important guest. Defense attaches from different foreign countries were also there.

He said that both countries are “working toward expanding bilateral military cooperation to newer domains in the near future” and that “our friendship will continue to grow stronger in the coming years.”

Last year, Iranian sailors took part in the MILAN 22 and IMEX 22 exercises. MILAN 22 was held in Vishakhapatnam, and IMEX 22 was held off the coast of Goa.

In October 2022, Indian training ships went to Bandar Abbas. Lt Gen Dinesh Singh Rana said, “There is more defense cooperation between India and Iran. Both sides are going to a number of professional military courses so that junior and mid-level leaders can talk to each other more.

In August and September 2022, a group of seniors from the Indian National Defense College went to Iran as part of a strategic neighborhood study trip.