PM Modi, Pezeshkian Hand-in-Hand at BRICS Forum

By Kumar Rakesh
New Delhi, 12th Sept: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian shared a striking moment at the BRICS Business Forum in New Delhi on Friday, with a photograph of the two leaders walking hand-in-hand drawing attention to India’s diplomatic engagement amid a fractured global order.

Modi led Pezeshkian into the forum venue at Bharat Mandapam while Russian President Vladimir Putin and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa walked alongside them.

The image highlighted India’s engagement with Iran and Russia while maintaining strategic partnerships and dialogue with the United States and other Western countries. It also reflected the expanded BRICS grouping’s focus on cooperation in trade, investment, innovation and global development.

Pezeshkian’s visit marks his first trip to India as Iran’s President and comes amid the continuing conflict involving the US, Israel and Iran.

Later in the day, Modi held bilateral talks with Pezeshkian, with India-Iran relations and the broader situation in West Asia featuring prominently in the discussions. The meeting was the second between the two leaders in less than two weeks.

Following the meeting, Modi said Pezeshkian’s visit was particularly significant as it was his first visit to India. He said both sides discussed India-Iran friendship and agreed on the need to pursue a long-term, mutually beneficial strategy.

“India remains steadfast in its commitment to the pursuit of enduring peace,” Modi said, referring to the prevailing regional situation.

India has consistently advocated dialogue and diplomacy as the way forward for a lasting solution to the Middle East crisis. New Delhi has also stressed the importance of energy security and called for safe passage for vessels carrying energy supplies.