PM Modi and President Pezeshkian Discuss West Asia, Maritime Security and BRICS Cooperation

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian met in New Delhi on September 11 on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit, discussing bilateral cooperation, developments in West Asia and the need to protect maritime trade and the safety of seafarers.

The meeting was the second interaction between the two leaders in less than two weeks, following their talks on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit in Bishkek on August 31.

Bilateral Ties and BRICS Cooperation

Modi and Pezeshkian reviewed different aspects of India-Iran relations and exchanged views on cooperation in multilateral forums.

Prime Minister Modi thanked Iran for maintaining regular, high-level participation in BRICS-related meetings despite challenging circumstances and highlighted the grouping’s potential to strengthen resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability across the Global South.

He also appreciated President Pezeshkian’s participation in the Leaders’ Session of the BRICS Business Forum, reflecting Iran’s continued engagement with India’s BRICS chairship.

The two countries have maintained cooperation across several multilateral platforms, and both leaders acknowledged the importance of continuing coordination on issues of mutual interest.

West Asia Situation Discussed

Recent developments in West Asia formed an important part of the talks.

Prime Minister Modi reiterated India’s position that disputes and conflicts should be addressed through dialogue and diplomacy, while stressing the importance of sustained efforts to secure lasting peace and stability in the region.

For India, instability in West Asia has implications extending beyond regional politics. The region is closely connected to India’s energy security, trade routes, Indian diaspora and commercial shipping interests.

Focus on Freedom of Navigation and Seafarer Safety

The two leaders also discussed the importance of protecting freedom of navigation and international commerce, particularly as regional tensions continue to affect shipping routes.

Modi underscored the need to safeguard the safety and well-being of seafarers, an issue of particular importance to India because large numbers of Indian nationals serve aboard commercial vessels operating across major global maritime corridors.

Disruption in key waterways can also increase shipping costs, affect energy flows and create wider pressure on international trade.

India-Iran Engagement Within BRICS

The meeting also highlighted the growing importance of BRICS as a platform for engagement between India and Iran.

With India holding the BRICS chairship in 2026, New Delhi has emphasised cooperation among emerging economies and the wider Global South. Iran’s participation adds another dimension to discussions on connectivity, development, trade, energy and multilateral reform.

The Modi-Pezeshkian meeting reaffirmed the two countries’ willingness to remain engaged both bilaterally and through forums such as BRICS. While regional tensions remain a major concern, the discussions reflected a shared interest in maintaining dialogue, protecting maritime stability and expanding cooperation through multilateral institutions.

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