PM Narendra Modi Likely To Meet Iranian Foreign Minister Amid West Asia Tensions: What We Know

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi arrived in New Delhi on Wednesday for a three-day visit as India steps up diplomatic engagements amid the ongoing tensions in West Asia and growing concerns over regional energy security.

Araghchi is in India to attend the BRICS foreign ministers’ meeting that begins on Thursday. He is also expected to participate in a joint call-on with Prime Minister Narendra Modi alongside other BRICS ministers from Brazil, Russia, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia and Indonesia.

The visit comes at a crucial time for India as the ongoing conflict in West Asia continues to impact oil supply chains and maritime trade. Araghchi is expected to hold wide-ranging bilateral talks with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, with discussions likely to focus on the evolving regional situation, energy security and the disruption around the Strait of Hormuz.

The strategic waterway is expected to feature prominently during the talks as India remains concerned about the movement of merchant vessels through the route. Several Indian ships and hundreds of Indian seafarers are still reported to be stuck in the region amid the continuing tensions. Energy, fertiliser and cargo shipments have also been impacted due to the instability around the Strait.

Araghchi’s visit also comes just ahead of PM Modi’s scheduled trip to the UAE. The PM is also travelling to Europe during the 6-day tour from May 15 to 20. The diplomatic engagements have gained significance amid rising tensions in the Gulf region following recent missile strikes on the Fujairah oil facility in the UAE. 

India had condemned the attack amid fears of a wider regional escalation, while Iran maintained that the UAE had become a target because of its support to the US after American naval action against Iranian vessels near the Strait of Hormuz.

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PM Modi’s Europe tour is expected to include visits to the Netherlands, Sweden, Italy and Norway. In Oslo, he will attend the Nordic-India Summit with leaders from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Sweden and Norway, where the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza and Iran are expected to be discussed.

This is Araghchi’s first visit to India in nearly a year. Since the conflict involving Iran, the US and Israel intensified earlier this year, Jaishankar and the Iranian foreign minister have remained in contact through multiple phone conversations.

The BRICS meeting in Delhi will focus on Global South cooperation, trade mechanisms, financial connectivity and reforms in international economic governance.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said that Iran can play a significant role in the BRICS agenda through its strategic location, energy resources and regional connectivity, while contributing to discussions on economic security and cooperation among developing nations.

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