Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian held bilateral talks in New Delhi on Friday on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit, with the meeting assuming significance amid the continuing West Asia conflict and its impact on regional stability, energy supplies and international trade.
The meeting came shortly after Pezeshkian arrived in the Capital for the 18th BRICS Summit and marked his second interaction with Modi in less than two weeks. The two leaders had met on August 31 on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit in Bishkek, where they discussed bilateral ties, trade and the situation in West Asia.
West Asia crisis in focus
The latest talks took place against a substantially altered regional backdrop, with the conflict involving Iran emerging as one of the most consequential issues confronting the expanded BRICS grouping. India has consistently called for de-escalation and maintained that disputes should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy.
During their Bishkek meeting, Modi had expressed concern over escalating tensions and stressed the importance of lasting peace and stability in the region. He had also underlined the need to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure and ensure freedom of navigation and commerce, including the safety of commercial shipping and seafarers.
The security of maritime routes is particularly important for India because instability in West Asia has affected energy supplies and shipping through critical waterways. New Delhi has repeatedly emphasised uninterrupted movement of energy and goods as a key economic and strategic priority.
Pezeshkian’s presence at the BRICS Summit is expected to place the conflict prominently on the grouping’s agenda, particularly as Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are all members of the expanded bloc.
Trade, connectivity remain key pillars
Beyond the immediate geopolitical situation, India and Iran have been working to expand and diversify bilateral trade and deepen economic engagement. Connectivity remains one of the most important areas of cooperation, particularly through Iran’s Chabahar Port.
India sees Chabahar as a strategic gateway providing access to Afghanistan and Central Asia while bypassing Pakistan. The port also has potential links with the International North-South Transport Corridor, which seeks to connect India with Iran, Central Asia, Russia and Europe through a multimodal transport network.
New Delhi and Tehran signed a 10-year agreement in 2024 for the operation of the Shahid Beheshti terminal at Chabahar, underscoring the port’s long-term importance to India’s regional connectivity strategy.
The two countries have also explored opportunities to expand cooperation in agriculture, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, energy and other sectors as they seek to broaden a relationship historically shaped by energy and connectivity.
Pezeshkian makes first India visit as President
Pezeshkian’s visit is his first to India since becoming Iranian President and the first visit by an Iranian president to the country in more than eight years. Hassan Rouhani was the last Iranian president to visit India, travelling to the country in February 2018.
Modi and Pezeshkian have maintained regular contact as regional tensions have intensified. In their engagements this year, India has highlighted the safety of its nationals in Iran and elsewhere in West Asia while reiterating the need to keep trade and energy routes open.
The two countries also cooperate through multilateral platforms including BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.
BRICS faces test over regional tensions
The bilateral engagement came ahead of formal BRICS leaders’ deliberations on September 12 and 13. The West Asia conflict is expected to test the expanded grouping’s ability to find common ground, given the differing strategic interests and relationships of its members.
India, which maintains longstanding relations with Iran while also having close partnerships with several Gulf states and Israel, has sought to maintain diplomatic space with all sides and emphasise dialogue.
Against that backdrop, the Modi-Pezeshkian talks offered New Delhi and Tehran another opportunity to discuss the rapidly evolving regional situation while keeping attention on the longer-term pillars of their relationship — trade, connectivity and strategic cooperation.