NEW DELHI: NSA Ajit Doval spoke to Ali Akbar Ahmadian, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran and representative of the Supreme Leader, underlining Iran’s constructive role in the region and expressed India’s interest in expanding bilateral cooperation – particularly in the development of Chabahar Port and the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC).According to an Iranian readout, he also thanked Iran for its continued assistance and support. The readout said Ahmadian affirmed that Iran and India, as two ancient civilizations, share deep-rooted ties and vast potential for political and economic collaboration. “He stressed the need to swiftly implement strategic projects and reiterated that bilateral cooperation serves the broader interests of regional peace and stability,” said the Iranian govt.Doval and Ahmadian spoke after the recent spike in tensions between India and Pakistan. The conversation came a day after Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif had a phone conversation with Iran President Masoud Pezeshkian and discussed the military conflict between the nuclear-armed neighbours and the subsequent pause in conflict. Iran had strongly condemned the April 22 Pahalgam terrorist attack and also worked to defuse tensions between India and Pakistan, following India’s targeting of terrorist camps in Pakistan and POK. Iran, in fact, had offered to mediate to bring the conflict to an end. For India though, there was no question of mediation by any third country as that has always been the policy of successive Indian govts on all issues between India and Pakistan. tnn