New Delhi, Sept 2026 : Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Saturday met President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi during his visit to India for the 18th BRICS Summit.
Pezeshkian arrived in the national capital on Friday and was warmly received at the airport by Union Minister of State Shantanu Thakur. His visit comes as India hosts the two-day BRICS Summit at Bharat Mandapam, bringing together leaders of member and partner countries as well as outreach invitees.
Welcoming the Iranian leader, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) highlighted the longstanding relationship between India and Iran. The ministry said the two countries share civilizational ties supported by strong cultural and people-to-people connections. It also noted that India and Iran, as BRICS partners, are working towards shared progress and prosperity.
Earlier on Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with Pezeshkian on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit. The discussions focused on bilateral relations as well as recent developments in West Asia, with particular emphasis on the need for peace, stability and diplomatic engagement.
Modi reiterated India's consistent position that outstanding issues in the region should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy. He also stressed the importance of safeguarding freedom of navigation and commerce, while ensuring the safety and well-being of seafarers.
The meeting between Modi and Pezeshkian was their second interaction in less than two weeks. The two leaders had earlier met on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Bishkek on August 31.
During their latest discussions, the leaders reviewed various aspects of India-Iran bilateral relations and cooperation in multilateral forums. Modi thanked Pezeshkian for Iran's regular and high-level participation in BRICS-related meetings despite challenging circumstances.
The Prime Minister also highlighted the potential of BRICS to promote resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability among countries of the Global South. He appreciated Pezeshkian's participation in the Leaders' Session of the BRICS Business Forum.
According to the MEA, the two leaders exchanged views on recent developments in West Asia. Modi underlined the need for continued international efforts to establish lasting peace and stability in the region. He also emphasised the importance of protecting maritime routes and ensuring uninterrupted freedom of navigation and commerce.
The Prime Minister further appreciated the continued cooperation between India and Iran on issues of mutual interest in multilateral organisations, including BRICS.
India is hosting the 18th BRICS Summit at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on September 12 and 13. The summit is bringing together leaders from BRICS member and partner countries, along with invited leaders and representatives from outreach countries.
India's BRICS Chairship is guided by the theme, "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability." According to the MEA, the theme reflects Prime Minister Modi's vision of a people-centric approach based on the principle of "Humanity First."
Pezeshkian's visit and his meetings with India's top leadership are expected to provide further momentum to India-Iran engagement, particularly in the areas of regional stability, connectivity, trade and cooperation in multilateral forums.
