Iran has reaffirmed the importance of its relationship with India ahead of President Masoud Pezeshkian’s scheduled visit to New Delhi for the upcoming BRICS Summit, signalling Tehran’s interest in expanding economic and strategic engagement with New Delhi.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei described the India-Iran relationship as long-standing, historic and civilisational, while emphasising the importance Tehran attaches to bilateral cooperation. He pointed to trade and economic engagement as key areas where the two countries maintain close relations.
The remarks came days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi met President Pezeshkian on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Bishkek. During the meeting, the two leaders reviewed bilateral relations as well as developments in West Asia. Modi reiterated India’s position that regional disputes should be addressed through dialogue and diplomacy, while also stressing the importance of protecting freedom of navigation and commercial activity.
A major focus of India-Iran engagement remains the Chabahar Port, which has strategic importance for both countries. The Iranian Foreign Ministry said the port is regularly discussed in bilateral consultations. Chabahar provides India with an important connectivity route towards Afghanistan and Central Asia and is also linked to broader efforts to develop regional trade corridors.
Tehran now expects the BRICS Summit in New Delhi to provide another opportunity to advance discussions with India. Baghaei said Iran intends to use the summit to continue consultations with New Delhi on areas of mutual interest. Trade, connectivity, logistics and Chabahar are expected to remain important subjects in the broader bilateral agenda.
The timing of the engagement is significant as India prepares to host the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12-13. India’s role in both BRICS and the SCO gives New Delhi additional diplomatic platforms for engaging Tehran at a time when West Asia is facing heightened geopolitical and maritime-security tensions.
For India, maintaining productive relations with Iran remains important from the perspectives of connectivity, Central Asian access, trade and regional stability. For Tehran, stronger engagement with India offers an avenue to expand economic cooperation and maintain ties with an important emerging power amid a difficult regional environment.
The upcoming BRICS Summit could therefore provide fresh momentum to India-Iran relations, with both sides having an opportunity to translate their longstanding diplomatic ties into deeper economic, connectivity and strategic cooperation.