Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian, in New Delhi. Photo credit: narendramodi.in/X via PTI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday (September 11, 2026) met with Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian ahead of the BRICS Summit and called for resolving the ongoing conflict with the United States “through dialogue and diplomacy”. Mr. Modi drew attention to the disruption in the energy supply chain because of the conflict and emphasised the need to ensure freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, which has been caught in a chokehold since the U.S.-Israel coalition attacked Iran on February 28. President Pezeshkian, who arrived here earlier in the day for his first visit to India since he took charge in 2024, emphasised “commonalities” between the two sides and called for deepening cooperation.BRICS Summit 2026 LIVE updates“Happy to have met Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian, the President of Iran. This visit is more special because it is his first visit to India. We talked about the India-Iran friendship. We believe that we should move forward with a long-term win-win strategy. The prevailing situation in the region was also discussed. India remains steadfast in its commitment to the pursuit of enduring peace,” said Prime Minister Modi in remarks after the meeting.“The two leaders exchanged views on recent developments in West Asia. Prime Minister reiterated India’s consistent position that all issues must be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy,” stated the Ministry of External Affairs in a statement after the two leaders met. President Pezeshkian previously met Prime Minister Modi on August 31 in Bishkek on the sidelines of the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Kyrgyz Republic’s capital, Bishkek. The Iranian leader is accompanied by a large delegation that includes Foreign Minister Syed Abbas Araghchi and Minister of Finance Seyed Ali Madanizadeh. Mr. Araghchi visited India earlier to attend the BRICS Foreign Ministers-level meeting in May. The top-level Iranian delegation’s presence at the BRICS summit is being keenly watched as Iran is caught in a war of words with fellow BRICS member the United Arab Emirates.“He also underscored the need for continued efforts to ensure lasting peace and stability in the region, safeguarding freedom of navigation and commerce, and the safety and well-being of seafarers,” said the MEA on Prime Minister Modi’s remarks highlighting the challenges that India has been facing on the front of energy security and maritime freedom because of the chokehold in the Strait of Hormuz. Mr. Modi appreciated Iran’s regular participation in the multilateral consultations under BRICS and welcomed President Pezeshkian to the Leaders’ Session of the BRICS Business Forum.At the BRICS Business Forum, President Pezeshkian called for greater use of national currencies to deal with “currency risk and mutual settlement”. He called for the creation of a Joint BRICS insurance company with an initial capital of US $10 billion to cover major infrastructure and energy projects. Iranian news agency cited the speech given by President Pezeshkian and said, “Iran, with its huge energy reserves and unique geographical position, is ready to play the role of a strategic partner in BRICS energy, food, and transportation supply chains.” In a pre-departure statement, Mr. Pezeshkian described BRICS as an “important platform” for dialogue with major economies. “The President said one of BRICS’ main objectives is to counter unilateralism and enable countries to preserve their independence while expanding commercial relations,” reported IRNA about the speech that Mr. Pezeshkian gave before leaving for India.Later in the evening, Mr. Pezeshkian attended a meeting in the Oberoi Hotel in New Delhi, which was attended by representatives and leaders of various religions, heads of think tanks, and businesspeople, and also included Mirwaiz Umar Farooq of Kashmir. Speaking on the occasion, Iran’s ambassador Dr. Mohammad Fathali appreciated the support from the Indian people during the ongoing conflict. He said Iran has lost many of its top commanders and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed on February 28, but the country has managed to emerge stronger from the conflict. “The people are standing with the government and the government is standing with the people,” said Ambassador Fathali. Published - September 11, 2026 09:02 pm IST
