Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has arrived in New Delhi for the BRICS Summit 2026, marking his first visit to India as head of state. He is slated to hold a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday evening, a crucial engagement amidst escalating tensions in West Asia and complex diplomatic efforts within the BRICS bloc.
President Pezeshkian's Arrival and Agenda
President Pezeshkian's flight touched down at Palam Air Force station at 2 PM today, a day ahead of the main BRICS Summit proceedings. This visit is significant as it is the first by an Iranian President to India in over eight years, the last being Hassan Rouhani's visit in 2018.
The Iranian leader's visit comes at a time when Iran is embroiled in conflict with the United States and Israel. Diplomatic sources indicate that the visit is also critical due to ongoing disagreements between Iran and the UAE regarding the language of the BRICS Delhi Declaration, highlighting internal challenges within the expanded bloc.
Prior Engagements and Regional Dialogue
The upcoming meeting between PM Modi and President Pezeshkian follows their recent encounter on August 31, 2026, on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) leaders' summit in Bishkek. This marked their first interaction since the latest phase of the West Asia conflict began.
Following their SCO discussions, Prime Minister Modi reiterated India's commitment to strengthening its long-standing friendship with Iran and expanding economic ties across various sectors. He also emphasized India's support for all efforts aimed at ensuring lasting peace in the region. President Pezeshkian, in turn, urged Modi to leverage India's extensive diplomatic contacts to encourage a return to dialogue and agreement, citing India's pivotal global and regional position.
BRICS Summit Diplomacy and Challenges
At the BRICS Summit, President Pezeshkian is expected to advocate for the multilateral bloc to take a firm stance against military actions by the US targeting Iran. However, this position may encounter resistance, particularly from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Given recent Iranian strikes on the UAE, Pezeshkian’s presence alongside Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, son of the UAE President, could spark contentious discussions over the West Asia conflict. Saudi Arabia will be represented by Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhad Al Saud. India, in collaboration with Russia and Egypt, is reportedly engaged in back-channel negotiations to bridge the diplomatic gaps between Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, aiming to salvage a unified BRICS joint declaration.