'Use India’s contacts to end bloodshed': What Pezeshkian told Modi at SCO summit as US-Iran war escalates
The Indian Prime Minister met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Bishkek — the leaders' first in-person interaction since the US-Israel military action against Iran began in February 2026.
According to Iran's official readout, President Pezeshkian asked India to "use the capacity of its contacts with various parties" to help move the conflict from "war and bloodshed" toward "dialogue and agreement."
The Iranian side expressed appreciation for India's support and cooperation with Iran during the recent conflict and called for intensified diplomatic efforts to restore regional peace and security.
India stated it will continue to support all efforts aimed at securing lasting peace in the region, without committing to a specific mediating role.
The 2026 Iran War and the Strait of Hormuz Disruption
The current conflict began on 28 February 2026 when the United States and Israel launched air strikes on Iranian nuclear and military infrastructure; Iran retaliated with missile and drone strikes on Israel, US bases in the region, and Gulf states, and moved to restrict shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Key Details
- The Strait of Hormuz is the world's most critical oil chokepoint, connecting the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea; roughly a fifth of global oil and a substantial share of global LNG trade normally transits it.
- Iranian forces have used naval assets to interdict merchant shipping and lay sea mines since the conflict began, disrupting global energy and shipping routes and forcing rerouting away from both the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea.
- India has a large expatriate and seafarer population in the Gulf region and is heavily dependent on Gulf crude and LNG imports, making Strait of Hormuz security a direct energy-security and citizen-safety concern for New Delhi.
Iran's appeal to India reflects India's position as a country with functioning diplomatic channels to multiple parties in the conflict (the US, Israel, Gulf Arab states and Iran) — a "multi-alignment" posture that Iran hopes can be leveraged for de-escalation.
India's Strategic Partnership with Iran and the Chabahar Port
India-Iran relations are anchored by the Chabahar port project, which gives India connectivity to Afghanistan and Central Asia while bypassing Pakistani territory.
Key Details
- India has developed and operated the Shahid Beheshti terminal at Chabahar port under a long-term bilateral agreement; Chabahar is positioned as the maritime anchor of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), a roughly 7,200 km multimodal route linking India to Russia and Central Asia via Iran.
- The INSTC was founded by India, Russia and Iran (2000) as a lower-cost, faster alternative to the Suez Canal route for India-Russia-Central Asia trade.
- Chabahar also serves as a strategic counterweight to the Chinese-financed Gwadar port in Pakistan, located only about 170 km away on the Makran coast.
India's stakes in Iran extend beyond diplomacy to concrete connectivity infrastructure; continued instability in Iran directly threatens Chabahar operations and INSTC viability, giving India a material (not just diplomatic) interest in de-escalation.
India's Non-Aligned/Multi-Alignment Diplomatic Posture
India has historically avoided taking sides in West Asian conflicts, maintaining simultaneous strategic partnerships with Iran, Israel, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and the United States — a posture often described as "multi-alignment," distinct from Cold War-era Non-Alignment.
Key Details
- India abstained from explicitly condemning either side in prior Iran-related UN resolutions, consistent with its practice of not taking public positions in intra-regional West Asian disputes.
- India's dependence on West Asia includes energy imports (Gulf crude/LNG), remittances from roughly 9 million Indians working in the Gulf region, and defence/counter-terror cooperation with Gulf states.
- This balancing act allows India to maintain communication channels with all parties, which is the basis of Iran's appeal for India to use its "contacts."
Pezeshkian's request tests the practical utility of India's multi-alignment strategy — whether diplomatic goodwill built with all sides can translate into an actual mediating or facilitating role in a live war.
- 2026 Iran war began: 28 February 2026 (US-Israel strikes on Iran; killing of Iran's Supreme Leader was among the reported outcomes)
- Strait of Hormuz: transit point for roughly one-fifth of global oil trade; effectively restricted by Iranian forces since the conflict began
- Chabahar port: operated by India via the Shahid Beheshti terminal; deep draft of about 16 metres suitable for large vessels
- INSTC: approx. 7,200 km corridor; founding members India, Russia, Iran (2000)
- Indian diaspora/workforce in the Gulf region: estimated at approximately 9 million
- SCO Summit venue: Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan (26th SCO Heads of State Summit, 2026)