India, Iran, and Armenia convened the second round of trilateral consultations in New Delhi on December 12, with an ambitious agenda focused on connectivity, regional cooperation, and strengthening trade and people-to-people ties. At the heart of the discussions was the expansion of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), a major trade route connecting India to Europe via Iran, Armenia, and Russia. The consultations were led by senior officials from the three nations, including J.P. Singh, Joint Secretary (Pakistan-Afghanistan-Iran) at India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Hashem Ashja’ Zadeh, Director General of South Asia at Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Anahit Karapetyan, Head of Asia-Pacific Department in Armenia’s Foreign Ministry. This high-level dialogue marked a significant follow-up to the first trilateral consultation held in Yerevan, Armenia, in April 2023.
Announcing the outcome of the meeting, the Ministry of External Affairs tweeted:
“The 2nd India-Iran-Armenia Trilateral Consultations took place in New Delhi today. Discussions covered connectivity initiatives, multilateral engagement & regional developments. Emphasis was placed on enhancing trade, tourism, cultural exchanges & strengthening people-to-people ties.” The consultations aimed at forging a stronger convergence of interests among the three nations, particularly under the INSTC framework. The role of Chabahar Port — a vital Indian investment in Iran — was a major point of discussion, with delegations agreeing on its strategic role as a linchpin for regional trade. India aims to use it as a direct pathway to Central Asia, bypassing its traditional rival, Pakistan. Chabahar’s role becomes even more crucial as India seeks alternatives to existing trade routes via Azerbaijan, a country seen as a close ally of Pakistan and Turkey. Armenia also presented its “Crossroads of Peace” initiative, which aims to transform the country into a pivotal connectivity hub linking South Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. The initiative seeks to leverage Armenia’s geographic location to establish a secure and efficient route for India’s goods to Europe. Beyond infrastructure, the three sides explored opportunities to boost trade and tourism while deepening cultural linkages. The three sides reaffirmed their commitment to continued cooperation under the trilateral framework. It was agreed that the next round of consultations will be held in Iran at a mutually convenient time. The International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) is a 7,200-kilometer multimodal network of shipping, rail, and road routes connecting India to Russia and Northern Europe via Iran and the Caspian Sea. This ambitious route, which includes partnerships with countries like India, Iran, Russia, and Armenia, seeks to reduce freight transit time by 30-40% and cut costs by up to 20% compared to the traditional Suez Canal route. The route begins at Mumbai, where goods are shipped to Chabahar Port in Iran. From Chabahar, cargo moves through Iran’s extensive rail and road network to Armenia, with onward connectivity to Europe and Russia. The strategic value of the route lies in its ability to bypass Pakistan and Azerbaijan — two nations perceived as close allies of India’s regional rival, Turkey.
