Modi-Pezeshkian Talks Focus on Maritime Security
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Friday in New Delhi, according to India's foreign ministry. Modi emphasized the need to protect freedom of navigation and commerce, as well as the safety and well-being of seafarers. The meeting occurred on the eve of the BRICS leaders' summit, which is taking place as the United States and Iran resume tit-for-tat strikes in their six-month-old war, following a pause for much of August.[S1]
According to the Indian foreign ministry, Modi restated New Delhi's long-held view that every dispute should be settled via talks and diplomacy. He further highlighted the importance of sustained work toward durable peace and regional stability, the protection of shipping and trade routes, and the welfare and security of those working at sea. The two leaders met for the second time within a fortnight, having previously spoken on August 31 in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on the margins of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation gathering, where Pezeshkian conveyed that Tehran sought a negotiated end to its dispute with Washington.[S1]
India's Tightrope Walk in the Conflict
In this conflict, India must balance carefully: it shares deep historical and cultural links with Iran, maintains a robust strategic partnership with Israel, and enjoys friendly relations with Arab states that host and employ millions of Indian citizens. Attacks on ships passing through the area have hit India hard, leaving no fewer than 10 of its people dead. New Delhi has spoken out against Tehran's strikes on Gulf neighbours, regional energy facilities, and vessels, which caused crew fatalities. Yet at the Bishkek summit, India unexpectedly endorsed a joint declaration criticizing the US-Israeli military operation against Iran and Western sanctions.[S1]
BRICS Business Forum Addresses Trade and Security
Addressing the BRICS Business Forum earlier on Friday, alongside Pezeshkian and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Modi argued that worldwide commerce can only advance when maritime routes are protected, supply lines stay unobstructed, and sailors remain out of danger. Pezeshkian, speaking at the same gathering, urged the BRICS nations to build conditions in which no state could interfere with another's lawful trade. He described the present moment as among the most complicated the world has faced, warning that growing reliance on economic tools as leverage endangers other countries' legitimate commerce.[S1]
