Amid escalating Israel- Iran tensions, India and Iran remain in touch diplomatically to finalise a meeting between PM Narendra Modi and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Russia ’s Kazan this week.
If it happens, it will be the first bilateral meeting between the 2 leaders since the reformist president assumed office in July this year. The troubled West Asia situation is expected to figure prominently at the summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin having invited Palestine President Mahmoud Abbas to take part in the meeting.
Iran remains closely aligned with Russia on regional and global issues and is also looking to sign a strategic partnership with Moscow during the visit of the president for BRICS. Israel has incapacitated Iran’s allies Hamas and Hezbollah with targeted killings of their top leaders. Iran launched a missile attack on Israel in response on October 1 and the threat of retaliatory strikes by Israel still looms over the region. Speaking about the BRICS summit on Friday, Putin offered to mediate, if asked, and help both sides reach a compromise.
Modi had congratulated Pezeshkian on his election as president in July, saying he was looking forward to working closely with him to further strengthen the “warm and long-standing’’ bilateral relationship for the benefit of the people and the region. Logistical constraints prevented a meeting between the leaders at the UNGA last month. If the meeting does take place, Modi can be expected to express concern over loss of civilian lives, seek Gaza ceasefire and underscore the need to prevent the conflict from spilling over into the West Asia region, while also condemning terrorism.
Modi had conveyed a similar message to Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu when he spoke to him last month, days after he met Abbas at the UNGA, while backing Israel on the issue of terrorism. India’s tough balancing act is driven by the need to keep its relations with both Israel and Palestine on an even keel.
Interestingly, at the BRICS foreign ministers’ meeting this year in Russia, which took place days after the Modi government was sworn in, India joined other member-states in condemning Israel’s military operation in Rafah and in expressing serious concern at Israel’s “continued blatant disregard of international law, the UN Charter, UN resolutions and Court orders”. However, India last month abstained from voting on a UNGA resolution demanding an end to Israel’s “unlawful presence’’ in occupied Palestinian territory that was adopted with 124 votes in favour.
If it happens, it will be the first bilateral meeting between the 2 leaders since the reformist president assumed office in July this year. The troubled West Asia situation is expected to figure prominently at the summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin having invited Palestine President Mahmoud Abbas to take part in the meeting.
Iran remains closely aligned with Russia on regional and global issues and is also looking to sign a strategic partnership with Moscow during the visit of the president for BRICS. Israel has incapacitated Iran’s allies Hamas and Hezbollah with targeted killings of their top leaders. Iran launched a missile attack on Israel in response on October 1 and the threat of retaliatory strikes by Israel still looms over the region. Speaking about the BRICS summit on Friday, Putin offered to mediate, if asked, and help both sides reach a compromise.
Modi had congratulated Pezeshkian on his election as president in July, saying he was looking forward to working closely with him to further strengthen the “warm and long-standing’’ bilateral relationship for the benefit of the people and the region. Logistical constraints prevented a meeting between the leaders at the UNGA last month. If the meeting does take place, Modi can be expected to express concern over loss of civilian lives, seek Gaza ceasefire and underscore the need to prevent the conflict from spilling over into the West Asia region, while also condemning terrorism.
Modi had conveyed a similar message to Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu when he spoke to him last month, days after he met Abbas at the UNGA, while backing Israel on the issue of terrorism. India’s tough balancing act is driven by the need to keep its relations with both Israel and Palestine on an even keel.
Interestingly, at the BRICS foreign ministers’ meeting this year in Russia, which took place days after the Modi government was sworn in, India joined other member-states in condemning Israel’s military operation in Rafah and in expressing serious concern at Israel’s “continued blatant disregard of international law, the UN Charter, UN resolutions and Court orders”. However, India last month abstained from voting on a UNGA resolution demanding an end to Israel’s “unlawful presence’’ in occupied Palestinian territory that was adopted with 124 votes in favour.
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