NEW DELHI, July 6, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi 
congratulated reformist candidate Masoud Pezeshkian on Saturday for his win 
in Iran's presidential runoff election.

"Looking forward to working closely with you to further strengthen our warm 
and long-standing bilateral relationship for the benefit of our peoples and 
the region," Modi wrote on social media platform X. 

India and Iran have warm ties despite Tehran's pariah status among Western 
countries including the United States, at the same time as New Delhi pursues 
greater security cooperation with Washington.

In May both countries signed a contract to develop and equip the long-stalled 
Chabahar port project in Iran, prompting Washington to warn that Indian firms 
working on the project risked sanctions.

Pezeshkian received around 54 percent of the vote while ultraconservative 
rival Saeed Jalili got around 44 percent in the second round of the poll.

An election was not due until 2025 but was called early after the death of 
president Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash.