Srinagar:- Advisor to the Supreme Leader of Iran, Ali Khamenei, today met Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed here today and discussed several issues of mutual interest.
Ayatollah Ali Akbar Nategh Nouri, Advisor to the Supreme Leader of Iran and former Speaker of Iranian Parliament, called on Sayeed this morning.
He was accompanied by Iran’s Ambassador to India Gholemreza Ansari, a government spokesman said.
Shia leader and Minister for IT, Youth Services and Sports and Technical Education, Imran Raza Ansari was also present on the occasion.
During their meeting, Sayeed discussed with the Iranian leader several issues of mutual interest, especially those related to culture, heritage, cuisine and handicraft, the spokesman said.
The chief minister made a special reference of the high quality of Iranian carpets, which have a huge international market.
Sayeed said the Iranian influence on Kashmir’s art and culture has been very strong and praised the greatest spiritual leader of Iran, Ayatollah Khomeni, describing him as an epitome of humanity.
Nouri praised Kashmir and said for the people of Iran, the special love for Kashmir would continue in future, the spokesman said.
Nouri accepted the invitation for a longer visit to Kashmir next time and expressed hope that the Chief Minister would reciprocate by visiting Iran, the spokesman said.
PTI
