PM Modi meets Iranian parliamentary delegation at 12th BRICS Forum in New Delhi
Synopsis
On the sidelines of the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum in New Delhi, PM Modi, EAM Jaishankar and Congress MP Tharoor held courtesy calls with Iran's parliamentary delegation — a cross-party, multi-level diplomatic signal that India's engagement with Tehran goes well beyond the forum floor, even as BRICS marks its 20th year of parliamentary cooperation.
Key Takeaways
PM Narendra Modi , EAM S.
Jaishankar , and Congress MP Shashi Tharoor met Iranian parliamentary representatives on 26 October 2026 on the sidelines of the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum in New Delhi .
The Iranian Embassy in India confirmed the courtesy calls on social media platform X, describing them as underscoring the importance of India-Iran bilateral relations .
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla chaired the inaugural session and also held a separate meeting with the Iranian parliamentary delegation earlier in the day.
The 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum is marking its 20th anniversary this year, with Speaker Birla noting the grouping is 'expanding rapidly.' Iran's parliamentary delegation arrived in New Delhi on Sunday ahead of the forum.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, and Congress MP Shashi Tharoor met Iranian parliamentary representatives on the sidelines of the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum in New Delhi on Monday, 26 October 2026. The courtesy calls, according to the Iranian Embassy in India, underscored the importance of bilateral relations between Iran and India.
What the Iranian Embassy Said
Sharing glimpses from the interactions on social media platform X, the Iranian Embassy in India stated: 'On the sidelines of the 12th Parliamentary Forum 2026, Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, and senior parliamentarian Shashi Tharoor received Iranian parliamentary representatives in courtesy calls, underscoring the importance of bilateral relations between Iran and India.' The embassy had earlier posted that the Iranian delegation met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla the same morning for separate talks.
Forum Inauguration and Key Participants
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla chaired the inaugural session of the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum, welcoming delegates from BRICS member and partner countries. In his address, Birla said: 'On this occasion, the presence of parliamentary delegations from BRICS member nations in India, coming to the world's largest democratic nation and sharing a joint commitment, will in itself be a special experience.' He also noted that the BRICS Parliamentary Forum is marking its 20th anniversary this year, adding that the organisation is 'expanding rapidly' and that so is its 'capacity to influence global developments and international relations.'
Among those present at the forum were Union Ministers, Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha Harivansh, Presiding Officers of State Legislatures, Members of Parliament, and other dignitaries. The Iranian parliamentary delegation had arrived in New Delhi on Sunday to participate in the event.
Significance of the Bilateral Engagement
The meeting between Indian leadership and Iran's parliamentary delegation carries notable diplomatic weight. India and Iran share longstanding strategic ties, with cooperation spanning energy, connectivity — particularly the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) — and regional security. This comes amid ongoing global attention on Iran's geopolitical positioning and India's continued pursuit of independent foreign policy engagements across blocs.
Notably, the presence of both the Prime Minister and the External Affairs Minister in these courtesy calls — beyond the usual parliamentary-level interaction — signals that New Delhi is treating the engagement as more than a routine forum sideline. The involvement of Shashi Tharoor, a senior opposition parliamentarian, also reflects a cross-party diplomatic front.
About the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum
The 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum brings together Presiding Officers and parliamentary leaders from BRICS member and partner countries to discuss mechanisms for strengthening parliamentary cooperation and advancing people-centric development. Hosted in New Delhi, this edition marks a milestone as the forum commemorates two decades of parliamentary engagement within the BRICS framework. The expanded BRICS grouping — which now includes partner nations beyond the original five — adds new dimensions to the scope of deliberations.
Further outcomes from the forum's plenary sessions and any joint declarations are expected to be released in the coming days.
Point of View
The Chabahar port, the INSTC corridor, and a shared interest in a multipolar order all sit beneath the surface of any such exchange. The participation of Shashi Tharoor, a senior opposition voice, projects rare bipartisan unity in foreign engagement. Against the backdrop of Western sanctions pressure on Tehran and India's longstanding policy of strategic autonomy, New Delhi appears to be reaffirming that its engagement with Iran will not be dictated by third-party pressures — a message that will be read carefully in Washington and Brussels alike.
NationPress
26 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who met the Iranian parliamentary delegation at the BRICS forum in New Delhi?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, and Congress MP Shashi Tharoor met Iranian parliamentary representatives in separate courtesy calls on the sidelines of the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum in New Delhi on 26 October 2026. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla also held talks with the delegation earlier in the day.
What is the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum?
The 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum is a gathering of Presiding Officers and parliamentary leaders from BRICS member and partner countries, hosted in New Delhi this year. It focuses on strengthening parliamentary cooperation and advancing people-centric development, and in 2026 marks the forum's 20th anniversary.
Why is the India-Iran meeting at the BRICS forum significant?
The meeting is significant because it involved India's Prime Minister and External Affairs Minister — not just parliamentary-level officials — signalling a deliberate diplomatic engagement with Tehran. India and Iran share strategic ties spanning energy, the Chabahar port, and the International North-South Transport Corridor, making parliamentary diplomacy a complement to executive-level relations.
What did Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla say at the forum inauguration?
Speaker Birla welcomed BRICS delegates by calling India 'the world's largest democratic nation' and said the forum's presence in India reflected a shared commitment to dialogue, mutual respect, and democratic values. He also noted that the BRICS Parliamentary Forum is marking its 20th anniversary and is expanding rapidly in its capacity to influence global developments.
When did Iran's parliamentary delegation arrive in New Delhi?
Iran's parliamentary delegation arrived in New Delhi on Sunday, 25 October 2026, a day before the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum commenced on Monday, 26 October 2026.
