WANA (Aug 31) – Iranian President Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and SCO Plus Summit in Kazakhstan, urging enhanced diplomatic efforts to establish regional peace while reaffirming Tehran’s commitment to deepening bilateral ties with New Delhi.

 

During the meeting, President Pezeshkian expressed appreciation for India’s partnership and support during the recent conflict. He outlined Iran’s foreign policy approach, emphasizing that his administration had prioritized peace, security, and dispute resolution through dialogue since taking office.

 

Pezeshkian stated that Iran had never welcomed war, criticizing the United States for pursuing confrontation and force instead of diplomatic mechanisms. He emphasized that their responsibility required keeping people safe from conflict and paving the way for peace and security.

 

He added that Iran had adhered to its commitments under past agreements, whereas the American side had failed to honor theirs. Nevertheless, he affirmed that Iran continued its efforts toward reaching an agreement, believing that the continuation of war served neither their interests, the region’s interests, nor those of humanity.

 

Pezeshkian further noted that reason and logic dictated avoiding war, though he pointed out that certain factions within the U.S. saw their interests in prolonging conflicts. He stressed that peace-seeking wills must be strengthened to move toward stability.

 

Highlighting India’s significant global influence and deep historical ties with Iran, the Iranian president requested that Prime Minister Modi leverage New Delhi’s diplomatic channels with various parties to help steer them away from violence and back toward dialogue and agreement.

 

Reiterating that wise minds across the region and the world desired peace and the avoidance of conflict, Pezeshkian maintained that dialogue and cooperation were the only solutions.

 

Turning to bilateral relations, Pezeshkian affirmed Iran’s readiness to expand and deepen ties across political, economic, scientific, and cultural sectors. He noted that despite pressures and obstacles created by the U.S. and Israel to restrict Iran’s international engagement, Tehran remained fully prepared to advance cooperation with India and offset the impact of sanctions.

 

He also stressed the importance of continuous high-level consultations to unlock new avenues of collaboration.

 

Prime Minister Modi expressed his pleasure at meeting the Iranian president and noted that India had strived to maintain continuous communication and collaboration with Iran during recent difficult times.

 

Acknowledging Pezeshkian’s background and stance on peace and security, Modi described the Iranian president as a peace-loving leader who could play an effective role in achieving regional stability, expressing confidence that his efforts would yield positive results.

 

Modi agreed with Pezeshkian’s assessment regarding factions that benefited from ongoing instability, stating that while certain groups found interest in war, both nations had to double their efforts to establish peace. He expressed his firm belief that peace and security would ultimately prevail.

 

The Indian Prime Minister also highlighted the ancient, civilizational, and cultural bonds between India and Iran, describing their shared history as a valuable foundation for expanding multi-sectoral cooperation.

 

The two leaders concluded by reviewing the current status of bilateral relations, focusing heavily on maritime and transport cooperation, developments related to the Strait of Hormuz, and ongoing operations at Chabahar Port. Both sides reaffirmed the importance of utilizing all available capacities to boost trade and strengthen the strategic alignment between Tehran and New Delhi.

 

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian arrived in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on Monday, August 31, leading a high-level delegation that includes Foreign Minister Araghchi, to participate in the 26th Summit of the SCO Council of Heads of State.

 

The two-day summit, taking place August 31–September 1 under the theme “25 Years of the SCO: Together for Sustainable Peace, Development, and Prosperity,” brings together leaders from across Eurasia.

 

Established in 2001, the SCO currently comprises 10 full member states: Iran, China, Russia, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, and Belarus.