Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, August 31, met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Bishkek, marking their first face-to-face meeting since the Iran war began on February 28.
The meeting took place during Pezeshkian’s visit to Kyrgyzstan for the SCO Summit and the Shanghai Plus Summit. In a post on X, the Iranian Embassy in India said the two leaders met and held talks, without immediately disclosing details of their discussions.
In a separate post on X, Modi said the two leaders discussed the prevailing situation in the region. He said India would continue to support efforts aimed at ensuring lasting peace.
Modi also said he reiterated India’s commitment to strengthening its long-standing friendship with Iran across diverse sectors. He added that India wanted to expand and diversify its trade basket with Iran in the coming years.
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi and other senior Iranian officials were also present during the meeting.
Tasnim, a semi-official Iranian news agency, said the leaders assessed the current state of Iran-India relations and agreed on the importance of broadening cooperation in areas of shared interest.
Before Monday’s meeting, Modi and Pezeshkian had remained in contact by telephone during the conflict.
The meeting comes against a backdrop of heightened tensions in West Asia and concerns over the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global energy supplies. Any prolonged disruption to shipping through the waterway could affect oil imports and commercial vessels, with implications for India’s energy security.
The 26th SCO Summit, scheduled for Tuesday, September 1, will bring together leaders of member states to discuss regional and international developments and ways to further strengthen cooperation within the grouping.
Modi is also expected to hold several bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the summit. Earlier, he met Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, with the two leaders discussing ways to strengthen cooperation in defence, economic ties, pharmaceuticals, science and technology, culture and education, while also exchanging views on developments in West Asia.
Later on Monday, Modi is expected to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin and attend the opening ceremony of the 6th World Nomad Games at the invitation of Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov.
