New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the need for “lasting peace” in West Asia while “safeguarding freedom of navigation and commerce” during his bilateral meeting with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian Friday.
Modi’s message for ensuring freedom of navigation and commerce is key as it refers to the Strait of Hormuz, the international waterway connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman. A fifth of global energy flowed through the Strait until it was effectively closed by Iran for over six months after the US and Israel jointly struck the West Asian nation. Iran has been working on a mechanism alongside Oman to potentially charge tolls for oil tankers navigating through the Strait of Hormuz.
“The two leaders exchanged views on recent developments in West Asia. Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) reiterated India’s consistent position that all issues must be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy. He also underscored the need for continued efforts to ensure lasting peace and stability in the region, safeguarding freedom of navigation and commerce, and the safety and well-being of seafarers,” said the readout published by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
The Iranian President arrived Friday in the national capital to attend the BRICS Leaders’ Summit, which is being held on 12 and 13 September. This is Pezeshkian’s first visit to India since assuming the presidency in 2024. Modi met Pezeshkian a couple of weeks earlier at the margins of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Heads of States Summit in the Kyrgyz capital of Bishkek.
“The two leaders discussed various aspects of the bilateral relationship. Prime Minister thanked Iran for its regular, high-level participation in BRICS-related meetings despite the challenging circumstances. He noted the potential for BRICS in building the spirit of resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability among countries in the Global South.
He also thanked President Pezeshkian for his participation in the Leaders’ Session of the BRICS Business Forum,” said the MEA readout.
The meeting between the two leaders lasted roughly 30 minutes. They met following the BRICS Business Forum, which Pezeshkian attended alongside Modi, President Vladimir Putin of Russia and President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa.
India as the chair of BRICS has been coordinating closely with Iran and the United Arab Emirates, to build consensus for a leaders’ statement. The UAE and Iran have been on opposing sides of the conflict in West Asia, with Abu Dhabi recently snapping all economic engagement with Tehran.
The differences between the two countries have led to no major joint statement released by the grouping through the various preparatory meetings under India’s chairship. New Delhi remains confident of finding a breakthrough that could lead to a consensus for a leaders’ declaration.
The Iranian President attended a gathering of key businesspersons and religious leaders in the national capital following the bilateral meeting with Modi. For Iran, India was a key trading partner until the US under President Donald Trump imposed stronger sanctions in 2019.
While there has been little movement with regards to trade, India and Iran have continued to have a cordial political relationship. The strategic project of building Chabahar port has come to a standstill, with Indian government agencies exiting the project earlier this year, after paying out all financial commitments, as the US sanctions waiver lapsed.
Pezeshkian and Crown Prince Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan of the UAE will be together during the BRICS leaders’ summit Saturday, highlighting the possibility of the role of New Delhi bringing the two countries to some form of compromise on the situation in West Asia.
Iran joined the grouping in 2024 following the expansion of BRICS, which was announced at the Johannesburg summit in 2023.
(Edited by Gitanjali Das)
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