PM Modi, Iranian President Pezeshkian hold first meeting since West Asia war began
PM Modi met Iranian President Pezeshkian in Bishkek, discussing bilateral ties and West Asia tensions, urging dialogue and protection of civilians.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Monday on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. The meeting was their first since the outbreak of the West Asia conflict in February this year, when the US and Israel attacked Iran. The war has continued despite a fragile ceasefire that has been violated several times in recent months.
During the bilateral talks, the two leaders reviewed the state of India-Iran relations and exchanged views on the evolving situation in West Asia. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that Modi expressed concern over the escalation of tensions in the region and reiterated India's consistent position that all issues must be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy.
The Prime Minister also stressed the need for continued efforts to ensure lasting peace and stability in West Asia. He called for safeguarding the freedom of navigation and commerce, emphasizing that civilians and civilian infrastructure, including commercial shipping and seafarers, must not be harmed under any circumstances.
Modi further underlined India's readiness to cooperate closely with Iran in multilateral forums such as BRICS and the SCO. He conveyed that he looked forward to welcoming President Pezeshkian to India for the upcoming BRICS Summit.