Modi Calls for West Asia De-Escalation via Dialogue, Pushes to Expand Trade Basket in Talks with Iran’s Pezeshkian
On the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Bishkek, the Prime Minister underscores the urgency of maritime security, civilian protection, and multilateral synergy under BRICS and SCO.
Bishkek: In a vital diplomatic engagement amid heightened regional tensions, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Kyrgyzstan’s capital on Monday. Reaffirming New Delhi’s firm stance on conflict resolution, PM Modi emphasized that lasting peace in West Asia can only be achieved through sustained dialogue and constructive diplomacy.
The high-level bilateral dialogue focused on deep-seated geopolitical shifts, freedom of maritime navigation, and a shared roadmap to significantly broaden trade relations between India and Iran.
“Met President Masoud Pezeshkian in Bishkek. Reiterated our commitment to strengthening India’s longstanding friendship with Iran across diverse sectors. We want to expand and diversify our trade basket in the times to come,” Prime Minister Modi stated following the bilateral meeting.
Strategic Pillars of the Modi–Pezeshkian Bilateral Meet
- Conflict Resolution: PM Modi conveyed grave concern over the escalation of hostilities in West Asia, reiterating India’s consistent push for peaceful, negotiated settlements.
- Maritime & Commercial Protection: India stressed the absolute necessity of safeguarding maritime corridors and ensuring commercial vessels and seafarers remain unharmed under all circumstances.
- Trade Diversification: Both leaderships agreed to broaden bilateral economic baskets beyond traditional energy and transit corridors.
- Multilateral Alignment: Reaffirmed cooperation under SCO and BRICS, with PM Modi formally looking forward to welcoming President Pezeshkian to India for the upcoming BRICS Summit.
According to an official briefing by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the Prime Minister underlined that non-combatants, civilian infrastructure, and international shipping lanes must not face disruption or threat in the wake of expanding military engagements across regional waterways.
Providing the perspective from Tehran, an official Iranian readout highlighted that President Pezeshkian expressed deep appreciation for India’s cooperation and balanced engagement during the recent conflict. The Iranian President noted that his administration’s core policy prioritizes stability through negotiations, but criticized American unilateral actions for exacerbating conflict and imposing geopolitical dictates through force.
Pezeshkian highlighted India’s strategic weight on the international stage and urged New Delhi to leverage its extensive goodwill and diplomatic channels across all stakeholders to steer the region away from bloodshed and back to mutual accords.
Bilateral Engagement with Armenia
On the sidelines of the summit, PM Modi also held productive bilateral talks with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. Discussions centered on expanding India-Armenia strategic partnerships across defense cooperation, information technology, space initiatives, education, pharmaceuticals, and mutual investment flows.
The bilateral parleys in Bishkek highlight India’s proactive, balanced diplomacy—reinforcing its commitment to global stability, unimpeded global supply chains, and forward-looking economic integration across Eurasian and West Asian corridors.
