New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for expanding trade with Iran during his bilateral meeting with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Monday, amid renewed American economic pressure on Tehran. He also raised the situation in West Asia, specifically pushing for dialogue and diplomacy.
The two leaders met in the Kyrgyz capital of Bishkek, on the margins of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Heads of State Summit. The meeting is the first between them since the US and Israel launched strikes against Iran on the last day of February. They have been in contact via phone calls in the last six months.
“Met President Masoud Pezeshkian in Bishkek. Reiterated our commitment to strengthening India’s long standing friendship with Iran across diverse sectors. We want to expand and diversify our trade basket in the times to come,” the Indian PM wrote in a post on X.
He added that India “will continue to support all efforts aimed at ensuring lasting peace”.
Sources in the know highlighted that “vital trade measures” was discussed during the meeting between the two leaders, however, the port of Chabahar—which India had heavily invested in for over a decade—did not come up. The source added that the focus of the roughly 30-minute discussion was to understand the ongoing situation in West Asia, and the potential pathways to restore peace and security in the region.
Other topics raised by Modi included the safety of seafarers and the necessity for free movement of commercial merchant ships through the region, it is learnt. Modi also said that he is looking forward to hosting Pezeshkian in a couple of weeks in New Delhi for the BRICS summit.
“The two leaders discussed various aspects of bilateral ties. They reviewed recent developments in the West Asia region. Prime Minister reiterated India’s consistent position that all issues must be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy,” Randhir Jaiswal, official spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement on the micro-blogging platform X.
Jaiswal added: “Prime Minister [Modi] also underlined the need for continued efforts to ensure peace and stability in the region, and for safeguarding freedom of navigation and commerce.”
The West Asia conflict has dragged on for over six months, leading to a price spike in oil globally, while has impacted merchant shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. The crucial waterway accounts for a fifth of the global flow of energy supplies. Furthermore, Iran has moved to dictate transit through the international waterway, and is currently working on establishing a mechanism with Oman.
Iran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz for large time periods in the last six months, and is now focusing on establishing permanent control over the international waterway, with global repercussions.
Tehran and Washington had been in negotiations to end the war, with a ceasefire coming into place on 17 June, mediated by Pakistan. However, the ceasefire has since collapsed, and the 60-day time limit for a larger peace deal elapsed earlier this month.
US President Donald Trump has maintained that no negotiations are underway, while Washington has moved to sharpen its economic sanctions against Tehran. Last week, the US came out with its latest sanction package against Iran, in what Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described as an “economic onslaught” against Tehran.
The US Treasury Secretary also announced that Washington will look at sanctioning countries that are continuing to trade with Iran, as a part of its economic efforts to shutter the Iranian economy.
Modi to meet Putin this evening
Modi arrived at Bishkek Sunday night after completing a two-day state visit to Uzbekistan. The Indian Prime Minister met with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan earlier Monday afternoon, before the bilateral with Pezeshkian.
Modi will meet with the President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japorov Monday afternoon, followed by a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin later in the evening. The Indian Prime Minister will also attend the opening ceremony of the World Nomad Games. The SCO summit will take place Tuesday morning. Modi will depart Bishkek for New Delhi mid-day Tuesday.
During the meeting with Pashinyan, the two sides discussed expanding defence cooperation, as Yerevan has been an important market for Indian defence sales. This is the first meeting between the two leaders since Pashinyan won the general election earlier this year and was reappointed as Prime Minister.
“During the meeting the two leaders discussed bilateral cooperation, including in defence, economic, pharmaceuticals, mining, education and cultural fields. They expressed satisfaction at the expansion of bilateral cooperation in several fields in recent times,” the readout issued by the Ministry of External Affairs said.
(Edited by Gitanjali Das)
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