Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Monday, 31 August urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intensify diplomatic efforts toward regional peace and security, during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit of Heads of State in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. The talks also covered the West Asia conflict, Chabahar Port cooperation, and the two countries' expanding strategic partnership.

Key Developments from the Bilateral

The meeting, which also coincided with the Shanghai Plus summit, saw Pezeshkian thank India for its continued support and cooperation. According to the Iranian Embassy in India, the Iranian president stressed that dialogue and cooperation remain the only viable path forward. 'We believe that the solution to the issues we face lies in dialogue and cooperation, and that all available capacities must be mobilised to prevent the spread of insecurity and conflict,' Pezeshkian was quoted as saying.

Pezeshkian also signalled Tehran's readiness to deepen bilateral ties across all sectors, invoking the long-standing friendship between the two nations. 'With Your Excellency's attention and support, we can further deepen relations between the two countries and create new areas for cooperation,' he said, underlining the need to strengthen official-level communications.

What India Said

According to a statement by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Prime Minister Modi expressed concern over the escalating tensions in the region and reiterated India's consistent position that all disputes must be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy. The MEA noted that Modi 'called for safeguarding the freedom of navigation and commerce' and emphasised that 'civilians and civilian infrastructure, including commercial shipping and seafarers, must not be harmed under any circumstances.'

Modi also reiterated India's commitment to sustained efforts for lasting peace and stability in the region — a position New Delhi has maintained consistently amid the ongoing West Asia crisis.

Chabahar Port and Economic Ties

Both sides underscored the importance of leveraging existing capacities to expand economic and trade relations. The Iranian Embassy confirmed that discussions included cooperation in transportation and maritime affairs, developments related to the Strait of Hormuz, and the progress of collaboration at Chabahar Port — described as among the most important issues on the bilateral agenda.

Chabahar, located on Iran's southeastern coast, is a strategic asset for India's connectivity ambitions toward Afghanistan and Central Asia, bypassing Pakistan. The port has been a cornerstone of India-Iran ties for over a decade, though US sanctions have periodically complicated its development.

BRICS Invitation and Multilateral Cooperation

In a notable diplomatic signal, Modi conveyed that he looked forward to welcoming President Pezeshkian to India for the upcoming BRICS Summit. The MEA statement noted that Modi reiterated India's readiness to closely cooperate with Iran in multilateral organisations, including BRICS and the SCO. This comes amid Iran's formal entry into BRICS in January 2024, which has added a new institutional layer to India-Iran engagement.

As the West Asia situation remains volatile, the Bishkek meeting signals that New Delhi is keeping diplomatic channels with Tehran active — balancing strategic interests with its broader foreign policy posture.