PM Modi meets Iranian President Pezeshkian on sidelines of SCO summit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian for the first time since the Gulf war erupted following US and Israeli strikes on Tehran. The leaders discussed the current regional situation and reaffirmed India's support for efforts towards lasting peace in the region. This was the first face-to-face meeting between the two leaders since the start of the US-Iran conflict.

As this was the first such meeting in over a year, it underscored the significance of diplomatic dialogue during tense times. The SCO summit provided a platform for discussing regional security issues, including the ongoing conflict. India aims to deepen and diversify trade ties with Iran despite the current geopolitical challenges.

Both leaders expressed their commitment to strengthening their long-standing friendship across various sectors. India emphasized its desire to expand and diversify its trade with Iran. The Prime Minister also expressed concern over the escalating tensions in the region while emphasizing that all issues should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy.

He stated that civilians and civilian infrastructure must not be harmed at any cost. The leaders also discussed bilateral ties apart from the evolving situation in West Asia. Prime Minister Modi conveyed to President Pezeshkian that he looked forward to welcoming him to India for the BRICS Summit.