Modi, Iran's Pezeshkian Push for Diplomacy Ahead of BRICS Summit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in New Delhi on Friday, ahead of the BRICS Summit, with both sides pressing for a negotiated path out of the ongoing conflict in West Asia.

During the talks, Mr. Modi flagged the strain the conflict has placed on global energy supply chains and underlined the importance of keeping the Strait of Hormuz open to shipping. The waterway has been effectively choked since a U.S.-Israel coalition struck Iran on February 28.

"Happy to have met Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian, the President of Iran. This visit is more special because it is his first visit to India," Mr. Modi said after the meeting. He added that the two countries should move forward with a long-term, win-win strategy, and that India remains committed to the pursuit of enduring peace.

The Ministry of External Affairs said the leaders exchanged views on recent developments in West Asia, with the Prime Minister restating India's consistent position that all issues must be settled through dialogue and diplomacy. Mr. Modi also stressed the need for sustained efforts to secure lasting peace and stability in the region, protect freedom of navigation and commerce, and ensure the safety of seafarers.

President Pezeshkian, who landed in the capital earlier in the day for his first India visit since taking office in 2024, spoke of the "commonalities" between the two nations and called for deeper cooperation. He was accompanied by a large delegation, including Foreign Minister Syed Abbas Araghchi and Finance Minister Seyed Ali Madanizadeh. Mr. Araghchi had earlier travelled to India for the BRICS Foreign Ministers' meeting in May.

The Iranian President's presence at the summit is being closely tracked, as Tehran is engaged in a war of words with fellow BRICS member the United Arab Emirates.

Addressing the BRICS Business Forum, President Pezeshkian urged greater use of national currencies to reduce currency risk and ease mutual settlement. He proposed a joint BRICS insurance company with initial capital of US $10 billion to cover major infrastructure and energy projects, and said Iran, with its large energy reserves and strategic location, was ready to serve as a partner in the bloc's energy, food and transportation supply chains.

In remarks before his departure, he described BRICS as an important platform for dialogue with major economies, noting that one of its central aims is to counter unilateralism and allow countries to preserve their independence while expanding trade ties.

Later in the evening, President Pezeshkian attended a gathering at a hotel in New Delhi that brought together religious representatives, think-tank heads and business figures, including Mirwaiz Umar Farooq of Kashmir. Iran's ambassador, Dr. Mohammad Fathali, thanked the Indian people for their support during the conflict, saying Iran had lost senior commanders and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed on February 28, but had emerged stronger. "The people are standing with the government and the government is standing with the people," he said.