India and Iran work on pragmatic solutions to sustain Chabahar Port co-operation

NEW DELHI : Iran’s government is responding to public protests over inflation with dialogue aimed at seeking practical solutions to economic problems that have arisen because of “unjust sanctions imposed by the West”, Iranian ambassador Mohammad Fathali said on Thursday.

In his first interview with an Indian newspaper, Fathali spoke about India and Iran seeking practical solutions to continue developing the strategic Chabahar port so that it doesn’t become a “hostage to decisions of third countries”. He also highlighted the important role India can play in the Gaza peace process.

The government has responded to protests observed in Tehran and some other cities with a responsible, dialogue-oriented approach. It must be emphasised economic and professional demands are a natural and common phenomenon in all countries, and the Islamic Republic of Iran, as a system founded on the will and vote of the people, recognises peaceful protest as a legitimate right of its citizens.

President Masoud Pezeshkian has clearly stressed the necessity of hearing the voices of the people and instructed authorities to pursue a path of dialogue and engagement by understanding the legitimate demands of protesters. These gatherings have been peaceful, and the government, within the framework of the law, is managing the situation and seeking practical solutions to reduce existing problems.

Regarding the causes of these protests, the most important factor is economic hardship, the root cause of which lies in the years-long and unjust sanctions imposed by the West on the Iranian people. These sanctions have directly targeted people’s livelihoods and created difficulties. Nevertheless, our wise and resilient people have managed these pressures, and the protests have remained limited in number.

The Iranian people have endured these conditions with patience, strength and unity, and the government is making every effort, through proper management, economic reforms, and use of domestic capacities, to reduce the effects of these pressures and respond to the demands of the people.