PM Modi backs lasting peace at SCO Summit meet with Iran's Pezeshkian
Synopsis
On the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Bishkek, PM Modi met Iran's President Pezeshkian and backed lasting peace in West Asia through dialogue — while also meeting Armenia's PM Pashinyan and engaging the Indian diaspora. The back-to-back bilaterals underscore India's strategy of keeping communication lines open with every major regional player, regardless of geopolitical pressure.
Key Takeaways
PM Narendra Modi met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on 31 August at the SCO Summit in Bishkek .
Modi called for resolution of West Asia tensions through dialogue and diplomacy, reaffirming India's peace stance.
Both sides agreed to expand and diversify trade between India and Iran.
The MEA highlighted Modi's emphasis on safeguarding freedom of navigation and commerce .
Modi also held a bilateral with Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan , covering defence, IT, space, and pharmaceuticals.
Modi paid tribute at the Mahatma Gandhi memorial in Bishkek and met Indian diaspora members, including a World Yogasana Championship medallist.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on the sidelines of the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan on Monday, 31 August, with both leaders pledging to deepen bilateral ties and calling for dialogue-led resolution of tensions in West Asia. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed that the two sides reviewed recent regional developments during the bilateral meeting.
Modi's Message on West Asia
Prime Minister Modi reiterated India's longstanding position that all disputes must be settled through dialogue and diplomacy, not conflict. In a post on X following the meeting, Modi wrote: 'Reiterated our commitment to strengthening India's long standing friendship with Iran across diverse sectors. We want to expand and diversify our trade basket in the times to come. India will continue to support all efforts aimed at ensuring lasting peace.'
The MEA added that Modi also underlined the importance of safeguarding freedom of navigation and commerce — a pointed signal given ongoing maritime tensions in the region.
Bilateral Agenda: Trade and Ties
Beyond the regional security discussion, the two leaders focused on expanding the economic relationship. Modi indicated that India intends to broaden and diversify its trade basket with Iran — a relationship that carries strategic weight given India's historical energy and connectivity interests, including the Chabahar Port corridor. This comes amid sustained Western sanctions pressure on Tehran, which has complicated bilateral trade flows in recent years.
Modi Also Meets Armenian PM Pashinyan
Earlier on the same day, Prime Minister Modi held a separate bilateral with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on the SCO Summit sidelines. Discussions covered cooperation in defence, IT, space, pharmaceuticals, education, and science and technology, alongside regional and global developments including the West Asia situation.
Modi posted on X: 'A wonderful meeting with Prime Minister of Armenia, Mr. Nikol Pashinyan on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Bishkek. India-Armenia cooperation is all set to grow in defence, IT, space, education, pharmaceuticals and more.' The MEA noted that Modi expressed India's intent to deepen and expand bilateral ties with Yerevan going forward.
Gandhi Memorial and Indian Community Engagement
During his Bishkek visit, Prime Minister Modi paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at his memorial — a statue unveiled during Modi's 2015 visit to Kyrgyzstan. He also met members of the Indian diaspora and community groups, including Yoga enthusiasts, academics, ITEC alumni, and researchers. Notably, one of the Yoga practitioners had represented India at the World Yogasana Championship in Ahmedabad and won a medal.
SCO Summit and World Nomad Games
Prime Minister Modi is in Bishkek on an official visit to attend the 26th SCO Summit and the opening ceremony of the 6th World Nomad Games. The SCO visit has seen Modi engage in a series of bilateral meetings, reinforcing India's active diplomatic posture across Central Asia and beyond. The Bishkek engagements signal India's intent to maintain dialogue channels with a broad range of regional actors even as geopolitical fault lines deepen.
Point of View
Given the dollar-settlement barriers that have historically stalled India-Iran commerce. The Armenia outreach, meanwhile, is quietly significant: as Yerevan pivots away from Moscow, India sees an opening in defence and technology cooperation that could reshape a small but strategically positioned partnership.
NationPress
31 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did PM Modi and Iran's President Pezeshkian discuss at the SCO Summit?
The two leaders met on 31 August in Bishkek on the sidelines of the SCO Summit and reviewed recent developments in West Asia. Modi reiterated India's position that all issues must be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy, and both sides agreed to expand and diversify bilateral trade.
What is India's stance on the West Asia conflict?
India has consistently called for all parties to pursue dialogue and diplomacy rather than military escalation. PM Modi reiterated this position during his meeting with Iranian President Pezeshkian, stating that India will continue to support efforts aimed at ensuring lasting peace in the region.
What was discussed in PM Modi's meeting with Armenian PM Pashinyan?
PM Modi and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan discussed deepening cooperation in defence, IT, space, pharmaceuticals, science and technology, culture, and education. They also exchanged views on regional and global developments, including the situation in West Asia.
Why is PM Modi visiting Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan?
PM Modi is in Bishkek for the 26th SCO Summit and the opening ceremony of the 6th World Nomad Games. The visit has included multiple bilateral meetings and engagements with the Indian diaspora in Kyrgyzstan.
What is the significance of the Mahatma Gandhi memorial Modi visited in Bishkek?
The Mahatma Gandhi statue in Bishkek was unveiled during PM Modi's earlier visit to Kyrgyzstan in 2015. Modi paid tribute at the memorial during his current visit, also using the occasion to interact with the Indian community, Yoga enthusiasts, ITEC alumni, and researchers based in the country.
