A striking image from the BRICS Business Forum in New Delhi on Friday showed Prime Minister Narendra Modi walking hand-in-hand with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. A picture, they say, is worth a thousand words.
PM Modi led the Iranian President into the forum venue at Bharat Mandapam, holding his hand, with Russian President Vladimir Putin and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa walking alongside them. Pezeshkian’s visit is his first to India as President and comes amid the long-drawn war involving the US, Israel and Iran, even as Washington and New Delhi remain strategic partners. Later in the day, PM Modi held bilateral talks with the Iranian President. Meeting for the second time in under two weeks, the two leaders discussed India-Iran relations, with the broader situation in West Asia taking centre stage. “We talked about the India-Iran friendship. “The prevailing situation in the region was also discussed.
For a lasting solution to the Middle East crisis, India has firmly positioned “dialogue and diplomacy” as the way forward. India has also said energy security remains a key concern and called for safe passage for vessels carrying supplies. We believe that we should move forward with a long-term and win-win strategy,” PM Modi said on social media. India remains steadfast in its commitment to the pursuit of enduring peace,” he said.
