Prime Minister Narendra Modi (L) with Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian in Kyrgyzstan. Photo: YouTube/Narendra Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian in Kyrgyzstan on Monday (August 31, 2026).
Mr. Modi met Mr. Pezeshkian on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit. This is the first meeting between the two leaders since the Israel and U.S. launched an attack on Iran, assassinating the former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei late in February 2026.
West Asia war updates on August 31, 2026
Previously, the Prime Minister has held telephonic conversations with Mr. Pezeshkian. Mr. Modi talked to the Iranian President on June 30, 2026 ahead of Khamenei’s funeral on July 3. On March 21, 2026, Mr. Modi had urged Mr. Pezeshkian for “freedom of navigation”, while highlighting India’s growing concern over disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.
Mr. Modi is visiting Kyrgyzstan at the invitation of President Sadyr Zhaparov to participate in the 26th SCO Summit on August 31-September 1.
The 10-member SCO is marking 25 years of the organisation.
It was founded in 2001 by China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan with India and Pakistan joining as full members in 2017, followed by Iran in 2023 and Belarus in 2024.
Mr. Modi is expected to also hold bilateral meetings with SCO leaders, including with Kyrgyz President Zhaparov and Russian President Vladimir Putin, on the sidelines of the summit.
(With inputs from PTI)
Published – August 31, 2026 03:22 pm IST
