Archive · 8 Sep 2026
Iran Seeks Deeper India Trade Ties Ahead of BRICS Summit
Iran says its friendship with India is old, important and growing.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently met in Bishkek.
They discussed their countries’ relationship and the situation in West Asia.
Iran plans to continue talking with India at the BRICS Summit in New Delhi.
Trade, economic cooperation and the Chabahar Port may be important topics.
India says it wants to expand and diversify trade with Iran.
India also supports solving regional problems through talks and diplomacy.
The United States has warned that helping Iran avoid sanctions could lead to penalties.
Iran called its relationship with India “very good,” long-standing, historic and civilizational, saying it attaches “great importance” to the ties.
President Masoud Pezeshkian and Prime Minister Narendra Modi met in Bishkek on August 31, 2026, during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit.
Iranian spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said Tehran would use the BRICS Summit to continue discussions with India on trade, economic cooperation and mutual interests.
The Chabahar Port was identified as a key issue in Iran-India consultations, with connectivity and logistics described as priorities.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that countries helping Iran bypass American sanctions could face sanctions themselves.
- Who
- Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
- What
- Iran praised its ties with India and said it would pursue deeper trade, economic, connectivity and Chabahar Port discussions during the BRICS Summit.
- When
- Baghaei’s remarks were made on September 7, 2026; Modi and Pezeshkian met on August 31, 2026. The BRICS Summit is scheduled for September 12–13, although one report lists September 11–13.
- Where
- The leaders met in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit; the BRICS Summit will be held in New Delhi, India.
- Why
- Iran and India want to expand bilateral cooperation, while the United States is concerned that engagement with Iran could help it bypass American sanctions.
Iran-India Cooperation
U.S. Sanctions Concerns
Expanding trade and connectivity
Iran-India Cooperation
Iran and India describe their relationship as historic and important and want to deepen trade, economic cooperation and connectivity discussions, including on the Chabahar Port.
U.S. Sanctions Concerns
The United States warns that countries should not help Iran create revenue-generating mechanisms that Washington says could support terrorism or nuclear-weapons development.
Engagement through BRICS
Iran-India Cooperation
Iran plans to use the BRICS Summit to continue consultations with India on mutual interests, while India says it wants to expand and diversify bilateral trade channels.
U.S. Sanctions Concerns
Marco Rubio said countries may pursue their own foreign policies but warned that assisting Iran in evading U.S. sanctions could result in sanctions against those countries.
Regional diplomacy
Iran-India Cooperation
India and Iran support continued diplomatic efforts, dialogue and cooperation to promote peace and stability in West Asia.
U.S. Sanctions Concerns
The U.S. position emphasizes preventing Iran from generating revenue that Washington says could be used to sponsor terrorism or build a nuclear weapon.
- Iran’s assessment
- Iran described its relationship with India as “very good,” long-standing, historic and civilizational, and said it attaches “great importance” to the ties.
- Leaders’ meeting
- Narendra Modi and Masoud Pezeshkian met on August 31 in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
- BRICS Summit
- India will host the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi; reports give dates of September 12–13 and September 11–13.
- Potential cooperation
- Talks may cover trade, economic cooperation, trade-channel diversification, connectivity and the Chabahar Port.
- India’s position
- India said it would cooperate with Iran through BRICS and the SCO, support dialogue and diplomacy, and work for regional peace and stability.
- U.S. warning
- Marco Rubio said countries helping Iran create mechanisms to bypass U.S. sanctions could themselves face sanctions.
