Pezeshkian, Modi Meet in Delhi; Iran Says Ties Can Be Revived Together

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi on Friday evening, using his first visit to India as head of state to signal that Tehran is not isolated and that the two countries can rebuild their ties.

Speaking after the bilateral talks at a gathering of religious leaders and business representatives, Pezeshkian thanked the Indian government and the Prime Minister for their hospitality and said the discussions would open the way for deeper cooperation in culture, technology, trade, science and the economy. "We can revive them together," he said.

The visit, his first to India since taking office, comes as Iran has been at war with the United States and Israel since February 28 this year. The last Iranian President to travel to India was Hassan Rouhani, in February 2018. Pezeshkian was in Delhi for the BRICS Leaders' Summit on September 12 and 13.

In remarks that carried a sharp message for Washington, the Iranian President said his country had withstood pressure from both Israel and the United States. He accused the US of targeting civilians, scientists, schools and hospitals while claiming to champion human rights, and said the Iranian people would not surrender. He also said that all humanity enjoys equal rights.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the two leaders exchanged views on recent developments in West Asia. Modi reiterated India's consistent position that all issues must be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy, and stressed the need for continued efforts to ensure lasting peace and stability in the region, safeguard freedom of navigation and commerce, and protect the safety and well-being of seafarers.

The meeting followed a first in-person encounter between the two leaders since the West Asia war began, held 10 days earlier on August 31 in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on the margins of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation leaders' summit. They have also spoken by telephone at least twice in the past six months.

At the SCO meeting, Modi had voiced concern over escalating tensions in the region and repeated that disputes must be settled through dialogue and diplomacy. Pezeshkian had urged India to use its wide contacts with various parties to help pull them back from war and bloodshed, citing New Delhi's standing and capacities in the region and the deep historical and cultural ties between the two nations. India has been concerned about attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

The External Affairs Ministry said the two leaders reviewed various aspects of the bilateral relationship. Modi thanked Iran for its regular, high-level participation in BRICS-related meetings despite challenging circumstances, and noted the grouping's potential to build resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability among countries of the Global South. He also thanked Pezeshkian for attending the Leaders' Session of the BRICS Business Forum and appreciated continued cooperation on issues of mutual interest in multilateral organisations, including BRICS.

Pezeshkian framed the visit in the context of the bloc, saying one of BRICS' fundamental objectives has been to counter unilateralism and that this year's theme reflected that aim. Before leaving for Delhi, he described the summit as an important opportunity to expand economic, trade, industrial and scientific cooperation among member states and to strengthen multilateralism in the international system.