SCO Summit: PM Modi meets Iran President Pezeshkian for first time since Gulf war — What was discussed

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian for the first time since war broke out in the Gulf following US and Israeli attacks on Tehran.

PM Modi held the bilateral meeting Pezeshkian on the sidelines of the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

In a post on X, Modi shared pictures from the meeting and said the two leaders discussed the prevailing situation in the region. He added that India would continue to support all efforts aimed at ensuring lasting peace in the region.

'Committed to strengthen India-Iran friendship'

The leaders also reiterated their commitment to strengthening India's long-standing friendship with Iran across diverse sectors.

"We want to expand and diversify our trade basket in the times to come," Modi wrote.

In a statement the government said the leaders discussed bilateral ties apart from the evolving situation in West Asia. The Prime Minister also expressed concern over the escalation of tensions in the region while reiterating India's stance that all issues must be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy.

"Calling for safeguarding the freedom of navigation and commerce, he emphasized that civilians and civilian infrastructure, including commercial shipping and seafarers must not be harmed under any circumstances," the statement read.

The PM also conveyed to Pezeshkian that he looked forward to welcoming him to India for the BRICS Summit.

Situation in West Asia

The meeting comes against a backdrop of heightened tensions in West Asia with Iran targeting US military bases in Jordan. According to a Reuters report citing Iranian foreign ministry, the attack was in response to US attack on Larak Island.

The ministry said the US bases in Jordan were used to launch and support the attack on Larak. The attack, reportedly, killed and wounded members of Iran's armed forces and civilians.

Apart from US bases in Jordan, Iran also attacked United Arab Emirates' Al Minhad Air Base with drones on Monday, according to ranian state TV, citing a statement from the army.

The army said the attack targeted locations where US forces and helicopters were stationed at the base.

Attack on tanker in Hormuz

Meanwhile, Iranian Revolutionary Guards also targeted a supertanker in the Strait of Hormuz with naval mines in the southern Strait of Hormuz, Iranian TV reported.

The Guards said the tanker had been attempting to pass through the waterway illegally. They warned that other ships violating its security rules would face the same fate and said compliance with its regulations for passage through the Strait of Hormuz was mandatory.