India’s ambassador to Iran seeks to expand cultural ties
India’s ambassador to Iran said strengthening cultural cooperation and people-to-people ties was a priority of his mission, citing the two countries’ shared history, philosophical connections and long-standing relations.
Vishwesh Negi told IRNA that Iran and India had deep historical ties and that closer links between their people could help broaden bilateral cooperation.
He said the presence of many Iranians in India and Indians in Iran provided an opportunity to strengthen cultural exchanges.
Negi also pointed to shared philosophical values, saying the principles associated with Mahatma Gandhi, including truth, nonviolence and sacrifice, were consistent with values found in Iranian society. He described Iranians as peace-loving people.
The ambassador has returned to Iran for a second posting, about 20 years after serving there as the Indian embassy’s second secretary.
He said Iranians held India in high regard and that their positive attitude toward the country could help advance bilateral relations.
Negi said his responsibilities extended beyond cultural affairs to include trade, communications and political relations.
During his first month back in Iran, he said, he had met with people active in cultural, political and economic fields and had visited several regions of the country.
His remarks highlighted the role of cultural and public engagement in relations between the two countries, alongside broader diplomatic and commercial ties.
However, he did not outline specific new initiatives or agreements to expand cultural cooperation.
Iran and India have a long history of cultural and intellectual interaction, and both countries have communities living in each other’s territory.
Negi’s comments underscored the potential for these existing connections to support closer engagement across several areas of bilateral relations.