Modi, Jaishankar and Tharoor Hold Key Meets with Iranian Reps at BRICS Forum
PM Narendra Modi and EAM S Jaishankar hold courtesy calls with Iranian parliamentary representatives during the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum in New Delhi.
In a significant diplomatic gesture, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, and Congress MP Shashi Tharoor held courtesy calls with Iranian parliamentary representatives in New Delhi. These high-level interactions took place on the sidelines of the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum, highlighting the strategic weight of India Iran bilateral relations.
Strengthening Diplomatic Ties
The Iranian Embassy in India confirmed the meetings via a post on X, stating that these interactions served to underscore the critical importance of the relationship between the two nations. The courtesy calls occurred as India played host to parliamentary delegations from both member and partner countries of the BRICS bloc at the Parliament House complex.
The event kicked off on Monday with Prime Minister Modi attending the inauguration of the forum, where he extended a warm welcome to the visiting foreign delegations.
The Power of Parliamentary Diplomacy
Adding a different perspective to the official proceedings, senior parliamentarian and Congress MP Shashi Tharoor emphasized the unique value of parliamentary diplomacy. He noted that forums like BRICS allow lawmakers to engage in dialogues that are often more informal and flexible than rigid government-to-government interactions.
Tharoor drew from recent experience to illustrate his point, recalling the parliamentary delegations dispatched abroad following Operation Sindoor last year. He shared that during those visits, international counterparts expressed how valuable it was to speak directly with Members of Parliament.
"Governments do all the official stuff. But when we went out last year with the parliamentary delegations after Operation Sindoor, everyone was telling us in the countries we went to how useful it was for them to be able to talk to MPs," Tharoor remarked.
He further elaborated that while geopolitics and official state relations are vital, there is a distinct and essential role played by parliamentarians that complements formal diplomacy.
A Global Gathering in New Delhi
The 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum has brought together a diverse group of international legislators. Delegations representing 11 BRICS member countries and 10 partner nations have converged in the national capital for the two-day event.
The forum, hosted by the Parliament of India, was officially opened with an inaugural address delivered by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, who serves as the chair of the forum.