PM Modi meets Iranian President Pezeshkian at SCO Summit in Bishkek

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said India will work to strengthen its long-standing ties with Iran and expand and diversify bilateral trade after meeting Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

“Met President Masoud Pezeshkian in Bishkek. 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,” Modi said in a post on X.

The two leaders also discussed the prevailing situation in the region, with Modi saying India would continue to support efforts aimed at ensuring lasting peace.

“We had a discussion on the prevailing situation in the region. India will continue to support all efforts aimed at ensuring lasting peace,” Modi said.

The meeting comes amid continued instability in West Asia. Modi had spoken to Pezeshkian in March, when the Iranian president briefed him on developments in Iran and the region. Modi had reiterated India’s position that issues should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy, while stressing the safety of Indian nationals in the region and the need for uninterrupted movement of energy and goods.

Modi is scheduled to hold several bilateral meetings with leaders attending the 26th SCO Summit.