New Delhi, 12 September (H.S.): Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian shared a notable public moment in New Delhi on Friday(September 11)as they arrived for the BRICS Business Forum alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.

PM Modi was seen holding Pezeshkian’s hand as the leaders walked into the venue, creating a striking image at a time when tensions remain high in West Asia. The moment drew attention to India’s diplomatic approach of maintaining close engagement with countries that have sharply different relationships with the major global powers.

Pezeshkian is visiting India for the first time since becoming Iran’s president. His visit comes against the backdrop of continuing conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States, making his presence at the BRICS gathering particularly significant.

The meeting also reflected the importance India attaches to its longstanding relationship with Tehran. India and Iran maintain cooperation in areas including trade, connectivity and regional affairs, while India simultaneously seeks to preserve its strategic partnerships with the United States, European countries and Gulf nations.

Later on Friday, PM Modi held a bilateral meeting with Pezeshkian on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit. According to the Prime Minister’s Office, this was their second meeting in less than two weeks, following their earlier discussion at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Bishkek on August 31.

The two leaders reviewed India-Iran relations and exchanged views on the rapidly changing situation in West Asia. PM Modi reiterated India’s position that conflicts should be addressed through dialogue and diplomacy rather than prolonged confrontation.

A key concern raised by India was the need to protect freedom of navigation and international commerce. Modi also stressed the importance of ensuring the safety and welfare of seafarers, an issue that has gained urgency because of disruptions to maritime trade and shipping routes in the region.

The Strait of Hormuz and wider maritime security have particular importance for India because instability along major shipping routes can affect energy supplies, trade and transportation costs. India has therefore continued to call for secure and uninterrupted commercial navigation while urging all parties to work towards de-escalation.

The broader BRICS discussions also focused on economic cooperation, investment, innovation and the resilience of global supply chains. PM Modi has argued that BRICS members can contribute to global economic growth by strengthening cooperation among developing and emerging economies.

The presence of PM Modi, Pezeshkian and Putin in the same frame therefore carried significance beyond the photograph itself. It reflected the complex diplomatic environment in which India is seeking to maintain constructive relations with Russia and Iran while continuing its strategic engagement with Western partners.

For India, the approach is rooted in strategic autonomy: maintaining dialogue with competing powers while prioritising India’s economic, security and energy interests.

After his meeting with Pezeshkian, PM Modi said the two countries should pursue a long-term and mutually beneficial approach to their relationship. He also reiterated India’s commitment to lasting peace in the region.

The BRICS gathering has consequently provided India with an important diplomatic platform—not only for discussions on economic cooperation, but also for engaging directly with partners amid some of the most serious geopolitical tensions of the current period.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar