Industry Odisha Bureau, Sep 15: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian’s maiden visit to India, held alongside high profile trips by Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, drew significant attention at the BRICS summit.
Despite the spotlight on bigger powers, Pezeshkian’s presence carried weight, arriving as Iran remains locked in tension with the US. Warmth between him and Prime Minister Narendra Modi was visible across all three days.
Modi has accepted an invitation to visit Tehran. After their bilateral meeting, he posted on X that both sides discussed India Iran friendship and a long term, win win partnership.
Beyond diplomacy, Iran offers India crucial energy supplies and strategic access to Afghanistan, Central Asia, and Russia while also serving as a counterweight to Pakistan’s regional ambitions.
A notable sideline meeting saw Pezeshkian meet Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, easing recent Gulf tensions. Talks had stalled earlier over a possible joint BRICS statement.
New Delhi’s quiet diplomacy helped bridge the gap between Iran and the UAE. India played mediator, brokering understanding between the two neighbours during the summit.
Perhaps most striking was Pezeshkian’s outreach to Kashmiri leaders a gesture with real weight given Iran’s influence within the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.
That meeting sent an unmistakable message to Pakistan, which has been positioning itself as a bridge between Washington and Tehran. Iran’s historic ties with India, officials suggest, remain far deeper.
