Iran’s Pezeshkian Expected to Attend BRICS Summit in Delhi

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is expected to travel to New Delhi in September to attend the 18th BRICS Summit, according to reports citing Iranian sources. The proposed visit comes at a sensitive time for West Asia, with regional security, energy supplies and maritime routes remaining major international concerns.

India is hosting the BRICS summit under its 2026 chairship. The leaders' summit is scheduled to take place in New Delhi on September 12 and 13.

Why Pezeshkian’s India Visit Matters

Pezeshkian’s reported visit would be his first trip to India since becoming Iran’s president. His participation would give India and Iran an opportunity for high-level discussions at a time when their regional and economic interests are closely connected.

The visit is also significant because Iran became a full BRICS member in 2024. Tehran has been seeking greater economic engagement with emerging economies while facing extensive Western sanctions.

India and Iran have maintained relations across areas including trade, connectivity, energy and regional cooperation. The Chabahar port project remains one of the most important areas of their strategic relationship.

Modi and Pezeshkian Have Already Met

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Masoud Pezeshkian have previously held discussions on bilateral and regional issues.

The two leaders met during the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, in October 2024. Their discussions included India-Iran relations, connectivity through Chabahar and regional developments.

The two countries have also remained in contact as the security situation in West Asia has deteriorated.

West Asia Tensions Add Importance to the Visit

Pezeshkian’s expected trip comes against the backdrop of continuing tensions involving Iran and the wider West Asian region.

For India, developments in the region are particularly important because they can affect energy supplies, shipping routes and the movement of Indian citizens and goods.

India is also closely watching developments around the Strait of Hormuz, as any disruption there could affect energy shipments and wider maritime trade. The waterway is one of the world's most important energy transit routes, making any prolonged disruption potentially significant for countries that depend on imported oil and gas.

However, there is currently no official announcement detailing what issues will be discussed between Modi and Pezeshkian during the BRICS summit.

Chabahar Remains a Key India-Iran Project

Connectivity is expected to remain an important part of the broader India-Iran relationship.

India has been involved in the development of the Chabahar port in Iran, which provides an important route for India's connectivity with Afghanistan and Central Asia.

The port has strategic value because it offers India an alternative connectivity route that does not depend entirely on routes passing through Pakistan.

Any discussion between the two countries could therefore attract attention to the future of Chabahar and wider regional connectivity.

Iran and the BRICS Financial System

Iran is also looking to deepen its economic links within the BRICS framework.

Iranian Central Bank Governor Abdolnaser Hemmati recently said that Iran would soon join the New Development Bank, commonly known as the BRICS bank. The announcement came ahead of BRICS financial meetings being held in India.

However, the New Development Bank had not independently confirmed Iran's membership at the time of the reports. Therefore, Iran should not yet be described as an NDB member unless the bank formally confirms it.

The move is nevertheless significant because Tehran is seeking additional financial and economic partnerships with countries outside the Western financial system.

What Could India and Iran Discuss?

Several areas could become important during the Indian visit.

Regional security is likely to remain high on the agenda because of the continuing instability in West Asia. Energy security and the safety of international shipping are also important for India.

Chabahar connectivity, bilateral trade, investment, transport links and cooperation within BRICS could also receive attention.

These are areas of potential discussion rather than confirmed items on the meeting agenda. The Indian government and Iranian authorities have not yet publicly released a detailed agenda for the proposed visit.

A Wider BRICS Meeting

Pezeshkian is expected to join other major leaders in New Delhi for the summit.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has already been confirmed for the September 12–13 BRICS meeting by the Kremlin. Chinese President Xi Jinping has also been widely reported as likely to attend.

The presence of leaders from major emerging economies could make the New Delhi summit an important diplomatic event, particularly given the current divisions over the West Asia conflict.

What the Visit Could Mean for India-Iran Ties

The proposed visit comes at a time when both countries have reasons to maintain close diplomatic communication.

For Iran, India represents an important economic and regional partner. For India, maintaining relations with Iran is relevant to connectivity with Central Asia, energy interests and the wider balance of relationships in West Asia.

The BRICS platform also provides both countries with an opportunity to discuss economic cooperation alongside wider international issues.

What Happens Next?

The immediate focus will be on the final arrangements for the September summit and the participation of individual leaders.

If Pezeshkian travels to New Delhi as reported, his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi could draw attention to Chabahar, regional security, energy and India-Iran economic cooperation.

At present, the key confirmed point is that reports citing Iranian sources say Pezeshkian is expected to travel to New Delhi for the September 12–13 BRICS Summit. The detailed agenda and outcomes of any bilateral meeting will only become clear closer to the summit.

With West Asia facing continued uncertainty, the Iranian president’s expected presence in New Delhi could give the BRICS meeting an additional diplomatic dimension.