India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijiani, on Saturday, September 6, 2025, were engaged in high-level telephonic conversations. A strategic milestone marked the conversation, signalling both nations’ intent to intensify bilateral cooperation across security, defence, economic, and infrastructure domains.
The newly appointed Larijani received congratulations from Doval- a gesture that underscores the importance India places on Iran’s evolving leadership amidst shifting geopolitical dynamics. The main motive behind this dialogue was to bolster security and defence ties, particularly during times of rising regional uncertainties.
The Chabahar port project was the key focus of the conversation which is a strategically vital port for India that provides access to Afghanistan and Central Asia by bypassing Pakistan. Both sides stressed the need to expedite its development, recognizing its significance for regional connectivity and economic integration.
Apart from trade and infrastructure, the call also covered broader aspects of economic cooperation, signifying a growing synergy between the two nations on influential infrastructure projects. This phone call encouraged technical collaboration and highlighted mutual interest in stronger diplomatic alignment amidst changing geopolitical contours.
Both countries agreed that this conversation would be followed up with continued dialogue during Larijani’s upcoming visit to New Delhi, highlighting the intensification of these bilateral exchanges through direct engagement.
The call also indulged in broader themes- trade, defence, security, and regional connectivity with special importance to how Chabahar could serve as a node linking South, Central, and West Asia. India-Iran collaboration has turned out to be a linchpin after the emphasis on Chabahar.
This telephonic discussion arrives when both countries are about to start several prior engagements, which include discussions early in May between Doval and Iran’s previous NSA Dr. Ali Akbar Ahmadian, which also stressed Chabahar and other regional corridors like the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC)
These telephonic exchanges will lead to scheduled foreign office consultations in Tehran later that week, along with a planned trilateral meeting involving India, Iran, and Armenia, transitions that reinforce the strategic momentum generated by the phone exchange.
