Context: Recently, Senior diplomats from Armenia, India and Iran explored the possibility of creating a new transnational transport corridor during first-ever trilateral talks held in Yerevan, capital of Armenia.

• The tilateral grouping between India, Iran, and Armenia is expected to pave the way for greater cooperation in a range of areas, including trade, investment, energy, and transportation.

Key highlights of the first-ever meeting

• The first-ever meeting focused on connectivity, especially the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC).

• INSTC was initially signed by Iran, Russia, and India in 2002 and has since then expanded, and a freight corridor connecting which is expected to connect three countries — India, Iran, and Russia.

• The main aim of this corridor is to reduce time and costs in the movement of goods from Mumbai to Moscow.

• The focus of the three sides during the meeting was on economic issues and regional communication channels.

• They also talked about trilateral cooperation in various fields as well as a further deepening of people-to-people and cultural contacts.

Focusing on the relationship

Iran and Armenia

• Iran and Armenia, which share a border, also have robust ties.

• Last year, Iran opened a consulate in Armenia’s Kapan.

• The two countries have also been working together to enhance trade and economic cooperation.

India and Iran

• India and Iran also have historic ties, with the two countries sharing a common cultural heritage.

• The Chabahar port in Iran has been key to connectivity between the two sides. India has provided equipment worth $25 million to aid in the development of the port, including six mobile harbor cranes.

• The port has the potential to serve as a gateway for India to access Central Asia and Afghanistan, while also providing Iran with an alternative trade route to the Persian Gulf.

Iran and Armenia

• Iran and Armenia, which share a border, also have robust ties. Last year, Iran opened a consulate in Armenia's Kapan.

• The two countries have also been working together to enhance trade and economic cooperation with Armenia serving as a transit route for Iran to access the Eurasian Economic Union.

• The trilateral grouping between India, Iran, and Armenia is expected to pave the way for greater cooperation in a range of areas, including trade, investment, energy, and transportation.