Tehran: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, emphasizing his country's long-standing relations with Iran, has announced New Delhi's readiness to expand and diversify trade ties with Tehran. Modi made the remarks in a post on his X network, following a meeting with Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian, on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on Monday.

According to Islamic Republic News Agency, the Indian premier and the Iranian president also discussed the current situation in the region, with Modi ensuring 'India will continue to support all efforts aimed at ensuring lasting peace.' Modi said he reaffirmed to Pezeshkian India's 'commitment to strengthening India's long-standing friendship with Iran across diverse sectors,' especially diversifying the trade basket in the times to come.

Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal also described the Modi-Pezeshkian meeting as productive and fruitful, saying the two leaders reviewed various aspects of bilateral relations and the latest developments in the region. Jaiswal added that Modi, in his meeting with Pezeshkian, reiterated New Delhi's position on the need to resolve all issues through dialogue and diplomacy.