PM Modi and Iranian President Discuss Peace and Cooperation at SCO Summit
During a recent meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Bishkek, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian focused on the importance of safe navigation and commerce. PM Modi emphasized that civilians, commercial shipping, and infrastructure must always be protected.
Despite the looming threat of US sanctions, both leaders expressed their support for enhancing trade ties between India and Iran. It was their first meeting in nearly two years, and they took the opportunity to discuss the situation in West Asia, notably the Strait of Hormuz and collaboration at Chabahar port.
President Pezeshkian encouraged PM Modi to leverage India’s extensive contacts to help reduce the conflict affecting the region. He stressed that the continuation of the war is not beneficial to humanity and urged efforts to pull involved parties back from ongoing violence. Pezeshkian also pushed for broader cooperation in political, economic, scientific, and cultural areas, which he believes could mitigate the effects of sanctions and strengthen their relationship further.
The last time Modi and Pezeshkian met was at the BRICS summit in Kazan in 2024. During the current discussions, PM Modi reaffirmed India’s commitment to enhancing its long-standing friendship with Iran. He mentioned the desire to diversify their trade relationship and noted the difficult conditions in the region.
In a message shared on social media, Modi stated, “India will continue to support all efforts aimed at ensuring lasting peace.” According to Iranian sources, Pezeshkian remarked that despite pressure from the US and Israel to disrupt Iran’s international relations, Tehran is eager to expand cooperation with India in various sectors.
PM Modi also expressed India’s readiness to work closely with Iran within multilateral organizations, including BRICS and SCO. Looking ahead, he mentioned he would be pleased to host Pezeshkian at the upcoming BRICS Summit in India, concluding their meeting on a hopeful note about achieving positive outcomes in the future.
