Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Bishkek, the capital of the Kyrgyz Republic, on August 31, 2026. It was the first face-to-face meeting between the two leaders since the US-Iran conflict began on February 28, 2026.

Reports suggest that President Pezeshkian and Prime Minister Modi mainly discussed the current political and security situation in West Asia. According to sources close to the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, Prime Minister Modi clarified New Delhi’s position on the US-Iran conflict during his meeting with the Iranian President. The Modi Administration has repeatedly stated that an amicable solution could be reached only through peaceful negotiation.

The two leaders also discussed the current situation in the Strait of Hormuz. Prime Minister Modi reportedly urged President Pezeshkian to safeguard the freedom of navigation and commerce in this waterway. While responding to escalating regional maritime tensions, he explicitly emphasised that civilians, civilian infrastructure, commercial shipping and seafarers must not be harmed under any circumstances.

Meanwhile, the Iranian President exerted diplomatic pressure on India regarding the ongoing armed conflict between Tehran and Washington DC during his meeting with the Prime Minister of India. He claimed that the US’ reliance on pressure and threats risks derailing the path of diplomacy. President Pezeshkian also asked Prime Minister Modi to use India’s diplomatic reach and influence to help pull warring parties away from conflict.

At the same time, President Pezeshkian strongly urged India to maintain and expand its investments, calling Chabahar Port India’s golden gate to Central Asia. He also signalled the Islamic Republic’s readiness to resume energy supplies, stressing: “Iran and India have extensive potential to expand cooperation in political, economic, scientific and cultural fields.” The Iranian President added that stronger bilateral cooperation and efforts to neutralise the effects of US sanctions could help further advance economic relations between the two countries.

According to political analysts, the Modi-Pezeshkian meeting highlights the complex diplomatic balancing act India faces as Iran pushes for deeper economic integration in spite of heavy pressure from US secondary sanctions.

Prime Minister Modi also held a separate meeting with Russian President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Bishkek. Modi told the Russian President: “India is hosting the BRICS Summit in a few days, and all Indians are eager to welcome you and your delegation. This visit of yours will further strengthen bilateral relations, and consolidate dialogue and cooperation within the BRICS framework.” The Russian strongman lauded the Indian Prime Minister’s efforts in deepening “special and privileged” bilateral ties, stating: “I would like to note with satisfaction that the Russian-Indian relations continue to get strengthened on the principles of the special and privileged partnership.“

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Published by Koushik Das

Koushik Das (born on May 16, 1976 in Kolkata) is a career journalist. Based in the Indian capital of New Delhi, Koushik writes mainly about foreign policies and current geopolitical issues, and rarely about other topics. His own political ideas are highly influenced by Antonio Gramsci, Louis Althusser, Michel Foucault, Michael Oakeshott and others. English philosopher and political theorist Oakeshott (Dec 11, 1901-Dec 19, 1990) says that “in political activity, men sail a boundless and bottomless sea. There is neither harbour for shelter nor floor for anchorage, neither starting-place, nor appointed destination. But we have to keep afloat”. (Rationalism in Politics, 1962) As a student of Political Science, Koushik loves to share his views on issues, which have great impacts on his thought process (and also on India, South Asia and of course on the global community), with his readers through his website – Boundless Ocean of Politics. By doing so, he tries to keep himself afloat. You will find some of his articles in https://inserbia.info/today/ (https://inserbia.info/today/author/kou_das13_i/), as he has been trying to assess the global geopolitics since 2003. You can also mail him at kousdas@gmail.com View all posts by Koushik Das