Iran urges India to allow visa-on-arrival facility

Hyderabad: Iran has urged the Indian government to relax its visa norms and extend the facility of `visa-on-arrival` for its citizens who are visiting India, a senior diplomat of Iran said here on Thursday.

Hassan Nourian, Consul General of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Hyderabad, said currently over 10,000 Iranian students are pursuing studies in various educational institutions in India and 6,000 in southern states particularly. To streamline the relationship between the people of India and Iran, the Government of Islamic Republic of Iran has eased the visa rules for Indian tourists, businessmen and pilgrims, he said. "Iran has already extended the facility of `visa-on-arrival` to Indians visiting our country at all our international airports. India should also take the initiative and extend similar facility to Iranians," Nourian told reporters here. The diplomat said the Iranian Embassy in New Delhi was already in touch with the Ministry of External Affairs on the visa issue and expects positive outcome, which will further develop cultural and trade relations. If India relaxes its visa rules, more number of Iranian students may choose India to pursue their education, otherwise they may consider some other South Asian country like Malaysia or even European countries, he opined. The Consulate General of Islamic Republic of Iran in Hyderabad will organise a programme on February 10, as part of the 34th anniversary of Islamic revolution in their country, Nourian said. Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister C Damodar Rajanarasimha, among other dignitaries, will participate during the celebrations, he added. PTI