Pezeshkian’s first India visit as president comes amid heightened geopolitical tensions, including instability around key shipping routes. The two leaders also discussed expanding India-Iran ties in trade and other areas, building on their meeting in Bishkek on August 31.
BY PC Bureau
New Delhi/ September 11: With the Middle East crisis threatening to further disrupt regional trade and maritime routes, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian held talks in New Delhi on Friday, with India reiterating its call for dialogue and diplomacy while underlining the need to keep vital shipping routes open.
The meeting, held on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit, was Pezeshkian’s first visit to India since becoming Iran’s president and his second interaction with Modi in less than two weeks. The two sides also discussed strengthening bilateral economic and political ties.
Modi thanked Pezeshkian for travelling to India for the BRICS meetings despite the difficult geopolitical situation. During their bilateral talks, regional developments figured prominently, with the safety and security of Indian sailors emerging as a key concern for New Delhi.
India reiterated that dialogue and diplomacy offered the only sustainable route to resolving the escalating crisis in the Middle East. The discussions also covered the importance of uninterrupted maritime movement and energy security, particularly amid concerns over disruptions affecting commercial shipping and supply lines.
Iran pushes for stronger BRICS economic cooperation
Ahead of the summit, Pezeshkian called for BRICS to focus more closely on economic resilience and reducing members’ dependence on Western-dominated financial systems.
Addressing the BRICS Business Forum on Friday, he said the world was going through a period of heightened geopolitical uncertainty and urged member countries to expand trade in their national currencies. He argued that BRICS should develop mechanisms that prevent any single country from using control over global financial systems to restrict another nation’s legitimate trade.
Pezeshkian also criticised US military action and sanctions, saying greater financial cooperation among BRICS members could help shield their economies from external pressure.
India’s External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal welcomed the Iranian president, highlighting the long-standing civilisational, cultural and people-to-people ties between India and Iran. He said the two BRICS partners were committed to working together for shared economic progress.
READ: 7,500 Runners, ₹1 Crore Prize Pool and a ₹40-Crore Tourism Boost — Ladakh Marathon Takes Off
Prime Minister Narendra Modi posts on X, “From Bishkek to Delhi, the productive discussions continue. Happy to have met Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian, the President of Iran. This visit is more special because it is his first visit to India. We talked about the India-Iran friendship. We… pic.twitter.com/ZK8g9DZakz
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 11, 2026
Modi, Pezeshkian met in Bishkek
The two leaders had met previously on August 31 on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Bishkek.
During that meeting, Modi expressed India’s support for efforts to bring an end to the conflict, while Pezeshkian urged India to use its extensive diplomatic relationships to help move the warring sides away from confrontation and towards negotiations.
Their latest meeting in New Delhi comes against a turbulent international backdrop, with the Russia-Ukraine war, the continuing Middle East conflict, tensions around the Strait of Hormuz and the Trump administration’s trade and tariff policies adding to uncertainty over global commerce.
For India, the talks with Iran are particularly significant as New Delhi seeks to balance its strategic relationships while protecting its energy interests, maritime trade and the safety of Indian nationals working aboard commercial vessels.
