New Delhi: The Iranian president, Masoud Pezeshkian, is likely to attend the 18th BRICS summit to be hosted by India in New Delhi on September 12-13, according to media reports citing Iranian sources. His participation could pave the way for a bilateral meeting with the prime minister, Narendra Modi, on the sidelines of the summit, with the two leaders likely to discuss bilateral ties and developments in West Asia.
Pezeshkian’s reported visit comes after the latest high-level engagement between India and Iran in New Delhi. Iranian foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, visited India for the BRICS meeting in June, where he held talks with the external affairs minister, S Jaishankar, on regional developments, the conflict in West Asia and the security situation around the Strait of Hormuz.
Following his meeting with Jaishankar, Araghchi said Iran would continue to carry out what he described as its historical duty to protect security in the Strait of Hormuz and assured friendly countries of the safety of their commercial activity. He also said Tehran would welcome a constructive role by India in efforts to de-escalate the conflict.
The possible visit would also mark Pezeshkian’s return to India after his last meeting with Modi on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, in October 2024. The two leaders discussed bilateral relations and regional developments, with particular focus on Chabahar Port and its role in strengthening connectivity between India, Iran, Afghanistan and Central Asia.
Why India needs Iran
India’s ties with Iran are centred on connectivity, trade, energy and access to Central Asia. Chabahar Port remains the key strategic project between the two countries. India has been involved in developing and operating the Shahid Beheshti terminal at Chabahar, which provides New Delhi with a route to Afghanistan and Central Asia that bypasses Pakistan.
The port is also part of the international north-south transport corridor, a multimodal network connecting India with Iran, Russia and markets in Central and Northern Europe.
The geographical position of Iran also makes it strategically valuable to India in the area of energy and sea trade. The Strait of Hormuz, through which a large proportion of global oil and gas reserves pass, is the link between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.
India and Iran have also maintained trade in commodities including rice, tea, sugar, pharmaceuticals, fruits and other agricultural products. India was previously a major buyer of Iranian crude oil, although direct imports have been restricted by US sanctions.
Why Iran needs India
India serves as one of the leading Asian economies that Iran maintains links with diplomatically, economically and through connectivity despite sanctions by the West. India offers an essential link for Iran’s infrastructure in terms of investment and connectivity. The port gives Iran access to markets of Afghanistan and Central Asia, among others, through an international transit system.
Membership of Iran in BRICS has provided an additional platform for interaction between Iran and India. The country joined the group in 2024 and has been seeking more economic and financial collaboration via the group.
Both the nations also regularly interact through institutionalized platforms like the Joint Committee Meeting and Foreign Office Consultations. The presence of Pezeshkian at the BRICS summit in New Delhi will highlight these bilateral concerns against the backdrop of the ongoing regional crisis, while India and Iran continue to interact in matters of connectivity, trade, maritime security, and West Asian developments