Iran Calls India Partnership ‘Long-Standing, Historic’ After Modi-Pezeshkian Talks at SCO
Iran's foreign ministry praised its bond with India as historic after Prime Minister Narendra Modi met President Masoud Pezeshkian on the sidelines of the SCO summit in Bishkek.
At the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Bishkek, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, prompting Iran's foreign ministry to label the bilateral relationship as "long-standing, historic and civilizational." Spokesperson Esmail Baghaei noted that discussions included the strategically important Chabahar Port and broader economic cooperation. India's office reiterated its intent to strengthen friendship with Iran across multiple sectors.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, however, questioned the prospect of an India-Iran trade agreement, warning against sanction evasion. Both sides emphasized India's membership in the SCO and BRICS as a factor in deepening ties. The exchange underscores Tehran's push for expanded trade links while navigating US pressure.
How this story developed
- Sep 4 India Hosts 2026 BRICS Leaders Summit with Global Leaders in New Delhi
- Sep 9 A bilateral meeting between Modi and Putin has been added to the summit agenda.
- Sep 9 India is positioning the summit as a development‑oriented bridge and has set aside the idea of a shared BRICS currency.
- Sep 10 India’s chairmanship delivered 20 sector‑specific agreements on SMEs, startups and supply‑chain resilience.
- Sep 10 Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to attend the summit, marking his first visit to India since 2019.
- Sep 10 India deploys roughly 25,000 security personnel and implements traffic diversions ahead of the summit.
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