Diplomatic Ties With Iran, China Border Dialogue And Strategic Global South Role At Summit

In an interview with India Today, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian addressed questions regarding Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, stating that he is alive and performing his duties. Pezeshkian dismissed speculations, asserting that foreign adversaries spread rumours because they cannot locate the Supreme Leader. He condemned the actions of the United States and Israel across the region, accusing them of carrying out assassinations and targeting leaders, scientists, and infrastructure. Pezeshkian also discussed bilateral relations between Iran and India, noting that ties with the Prime Minister of India are strengthening continuously based on deep-rooted historical and cultural connections.

In an exclusive interaction, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian articulated Tehran's foreign policy stance and addressed escalating regional tensions across West Asia. Speaking on Iran's position amid ongoing conflict, President Pezeshkian stressed his country's resilience, firmly ruling out surrender or capitulation to the United States and Israel. He placed responsibility for the conflict on Washington, characterising the US as the provocateur while maintaining that Iranian actions constitute retaliation. The Iranian President also addressed critical issues surrounding maritime security at Bab el-Mandab, Houthi operations, strained relations with the United Arab Emirates, and the presence of American military bases in the region. Furthermore, the discussion explored potential diplomatic pathways, including the possibility of direct, precondition-free dialogue with Donald Trump, and highlighted historical bilateral ties between India and Iran.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian met President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan following a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In an interview with India Today, Pezeshkian highlighted the historical and cultural connection between India and Iran, stating that relations with the Indian Prime Minister have been improving steadily. He noted that the two nations share deep-rooted civilisational ties spanning millennia, which provide a foundation to build stronger cooperation and counter rising global totalitarianism. Pezeshkian addressed critical international and regional subjects during the conversation, including bilateral discussions with Prime Minister Modi, the ongoing war, relations regarding Donald Trump, the status of the Supreme Leader, and domestic economic conditions in Iran. The discussion also touched upon the Strait of Hormuz, regional diplomatic engagements with the Arab world, and Iran's position on nuclear enrichment and nuclear weapons.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has arrived in India after a seven-year gap to participate in the BRICS Summit in New Delhi, marking a significant step in ongoing diplomatic engagement between the two nations. In a panel discussion, former diplomat Anil Trigunayat and strategic affairs expert Dr Tara Kartha analyse the geopolitical dynamics surrounding the visit, bilateral relations, and global implications. The discussion highlights the policy of cooperation while avoiding conflict, key issues such as boundary disputes, trade deficits, and connectivity restoration post-Galwan. The experts also examine the broader role of BRICS in addressing climate finance, supply chains, counter-terrorism, and regional stability amid global economic challenges. Bilateral engagements on the sidelines of the summit, including India's discussions with Ethiopia on mining and Malaysia on semiconductors, further underline the critical focus on economic partnerships and the Global South.