Iranian President In Delhi, BRICS Summit 2026, Bilateral Talks Focus On West Asia Crisis

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has arrived at the Palam Air Force Station in New Delhi ahead of the summit. This marks the first visit by an Iranian president to India in eight years, following Hassan Rouhani's trip in 2018. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Pezeshkian are scheduled to hold bilateral talks focusing on crucial issues, including the Chabahar port project, regional connectivity to Afghanistan and Central Asia, and energy security. The discussions also come amid global shipping security concerns regarding the Strait of Hormuz, the Red Sea, and the Suez Canal. The two leaders previously met in Bishkek on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit, where discussions centred on trade diversification and regional stability through dialogue and diplomacy. India aims to navigate multilateral groupings such as BRICS and facilitate consensus among member nations.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian's aircraft entered Indian airspace ahead of his scheduled landing at Delhi's Palam Air Base. Meanwhile, Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to visit India, marking his first trip in seven years since the Galwan clash. Xi Jinping will arrive in New Delhi at 12:25 PM and hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at 5:45 PM at Bharat Mandapam on the sidelines of the BRICS summit. The bilateral meeting is expected to focus on high-level political engagement, border stabilization along the 3,488-kilometre Line of Actual Control following disengagement in Depsang and Demchok, and economic ties. Diplomatic progress has also seen the resumption of direct flights and the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. However, significant challenges persist, including China's claims on Arunachal Pradesh, growing military cooperation with Pakistan, a widening trade deficit in Beijing's favour, Chinese naval provocations in the Indian Ocean, and export controls on rare earth elements. World leaders continue gathering in New Delhi as the BRICS summit commences.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to hold high-level bilateral talks in New Delhi, including meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. The talks occur amid an escalation in the West Asia conflict. The agenda includes discussions on the impact of the regional conflict, energy security disruptions linked to the Hormuz crisis, and the safety of Indian seafarers navigating targeted shipping routes. Iranian President Pezeshkian is also scheduled to meet President Droupadi Murmu.

The 18th BRICS Summit is witnessing elaborate arrangements at Bharat Mandapam, where President Droupadi Murmu will host global leaders as part of the summit protocol.