Modi tells Iran president freedom of navigation in Strait of Hormuz is vital, invites him to BRICS summit

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian about recent developments in West Asia, stressing the importance of freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. The call also included a formal invitation for Pezeshkian to attend the upcoming BRICS Leaders' Summit in India. The conversation comes amid heightened attention to regional stability and the security of a waterway that is central to India's energy imports.

Sponsored

According to the Iranian readout of the call, Modi expressed hope for lasting peace in the region and said India valued continued efforts toward de-escalation. The readout said he conveyed condolences and sympathy from the government and people of India over the deaths of the Supreme Leader and several Iranian officials and citizens during the recent war. It also said India would send a special delegation to attend the funeral ceremony of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution.

The phone call took place days after Pezeshkian invited Modi to the state funeral for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a US-Israeli air strike on Tehran on February 28. Funeral proceedings are due to begin in Tehran on July 4, with burial in Mashhad on July 9, according to the supplied material. Modi may be unable to attend because he is scheduled to leave on a three-nation visit around the same dates, while External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is likely to accompany him.

The Strait of Hormuz is a strategically important chokepoint for global energy flows, and the supplied material says it is key to India's energy imports. Modi's emphasis on navigation rights reflects the wider concern that any disruption there can affect shipping routes and energy security well beyond the region. The call also shows how India is balancing diplomatic engagement with Iran while watching the impact of conflict in West Asia on trade and supply lines.

Sponsored

The exchange comes after the Iran-US memorandum of understanding signed on June 17 to end hostilities, which the supplied material says followed the recent conflict. It also notes that multiple India-bound vessels have successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz since that agreement. That suggests shipping conditions have improved, but the situation remains sensitive because the corridor is still exposed to regional tensions and political uncertainty.

What remains unclear is how far the recent de-escalation will hold and whether the BRICS summit invitation will be accepted in person. It is also not yet clear whether Modi will attend the funeral or be represented by the delegation named in the report. The next developments to watch are further statements from New Delhi and Tehran, and any signs of disruption to traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.

#NarendraModi #MasoudPezeshkian #StraitofHormuz #BRICSsummit #IndiaIranrelations