Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi and other senior Iranian officials were also present at the meeting. Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Monday on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, with the two leaders discussing the situation in West Asia and ways to strengthen bilateral ties.
Modi and Pezeshkian reviewed the latest developments in India-Iran relations and stressed the need to expand cooperation in areas of mutual interest, according to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on X that the two leaders discussed ways to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in defence, economic ties, pharmaceuticals, science and technology, culture and education. “PM Narendra Modi reiterated that India looked forward to working closely with Armenia to further deepen and expand bilateral ties,” the MEA added.
The meeting comes amid continuing tensions in West Asia. PM Modi and Pezeshkian had last spoken over the phone in June, when the Iranian President briefed the Prime Minister on developments in the region and discussed the way forward. PM Modi had welcomed the understanding reached to end the conflict and underlined the need for continued efforts to achieve lasting peace and stability. PM Modi is in Bishkek to attend the 26th SCO Summit and the opening ceremony of the 6th World Nomad Games. They also exchanged views on regional and global developments, including the situation in West Asia. The Prime Minister also met members of communities with close links to India, including Yoga practitioners, academics, Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) alumni, researchers and members of the Indian diaspora.
Earlier on Monday, PM Modi met Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and discussed ways to expand bilateral cooperation in several sectors, besides exchanging views on the situation in West Asia.
