Modi urges Iran’s Pezeshkian to resolve West Asia conflict through dialogue | India News - Hindustan Times

**Prime Minister Narendra Modi Calls on Iran’s Representative to Pursue Dialogue Over West Asian Turmoil**

New Delhi – During a high‑profile side meeting on the margins of the BRICS summit in Johannesburg, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged Iran’s senior envoy, Hossein Pezeshkian, to work toward a diplomatic resolution of the escalating conflict in West Asia. The two leaders exchanged remarks on the humanitarian toll of the Israel‑Hamas war and the broader destabilising ripple effects across the region. Modi stressed that India’s foreign‑policy principle of “strategic autonomy” compels it to champion dialogue, confidence‑building measures and inclusive peace talks, rather than unilateral military action. He offered India’s good offices as a neutral platform for any future negotiations, citing New Delhi’s long‑standing ties with both Tehran and the Gulf states.

Modi’s appeal came amid a flurry of Indian diplomatic outreach to the Middle East. Earlier in the week, the Crown Prince of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, met Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi (referred to in Indian media as “Pezehian”) on the sidelines of the same summit, signalling a coordinated push by the BRICS bloc to address energy security and regional stability. In New Delhi, President Droupadi Murmu also hosted Pezeshkian, reiterating India’s commitment to multilateralism and urging Tehran to champion diplomatic channels. These engagements underline New Delhi’s attempt to position itself as a bridge between rival regional powers while safeguarding its own energy and trade interests.

The diplomatic overtures coincide with Iran’s call for deeper intra‑BRICS economic cooperation, especially in the realm of trade settlements using group‑wide currencies to circumvent U.S. sanctions. Tehran’s officials have highlighted the potential for joint projects in energy, infrastructure and technology that could benefit all five BRICS members. By aligning with Iran on economic fronts while simultaneously pressing for peace talks, India seeks to reinforce its image of “picture‑perfect diplomacy,” balancing strategic partnerships with a principled stance on conflict resolution in a volatile region.