Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian departed New Delhi for Tehran on Sunday, 14 September 2026, concluding his visit to India for the 18th BRICS Summit. The Iranian Embassy confirmed the departure via a post on X, sharing footage of Pezeshkian's send-off — and a notable personal message to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

A Warm Farewell and an Open Invitation

Before boarding his flight, President Pezeshkian extended a personal invitation to Prime Minister Modi to visit Iran. “Goodbye, my dear friend. I look forward to seeing you in Iran very soon,” the Iranian Embassy quoted Pezeshkian as saying, sharing an image of the two leaders together.

The remark signals a warming of bilateral ties at the highest level. Notably, this was Pezeshkian’s first-ever visit to India — a detail Prime Minister Modi himself highlighted in an X post during the summit.

Modi-Pezeshkian Bilateral on BRICS Sidelines

Prime Minister Modi met President Pezeshkian on Friday on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in New Delhi. Modi said India and Iran should pursue a ‘long-term and win-win strategy,’ underscoring both nations’ interest in deepening economic and strategic engagement.

“From Bishkek to Delhi, the productive discussions continue. Happy to have met Dr Masoud Pezeshkian, the President of Iran. This visit is more special because it is his first visit to India,” Modi posted on X. “We talked about the India-Iran friendship. We believe that we should move forward with a long-term and win-win strategy. The prevailing situation in the region was also discussed. India remains steadfast in its commitment to the pursuit of enduring peace,” he added.

Pezeshkian Meets President Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan

On Saturday, President Pezeshkian called on President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The two heads of state discussed the historically deep cultural and people-to-people ties binding the two nations. President Murmu reiterated India’s commitment to dialogue and diplomacy as the path to enduring regional peace, according to the President’s Secretariat.

The meeting at Rashtrapati Bhavan followed the protocol of a full state-level engagement, reflecting the significance India placed on Pezeshkian’s visit beyond the multilateral BRICS framework.

Context: BRICS and India-Iran Relations

The 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi brought together leaders from across the expanded bloc — a diplomatic showcase for India as host. Iran, which joined the BRICS grouping as a full member, used the platform to signal its intent to deepen ties with key partners including India.

India-Iran relations carry significant strategic weight: the Chabahar Port project — a corridor India has invested in to access Afghanistan and Central Asia bypassing Pakistan — remains a central pillar of bilateral engagement. The region’s ‘prevailing situation,’ referenced by Modi, likely alludes to ongoing tensions involving Iran’s neighbourhood, including the Gaza conflict and Gulf security dynamics.

With an invitation to Tehran now on the table, the trajectory of India-Iran ties — and Modi’s potential visit — will be closely watched in the months ahead.