PM Modi held talks with Iranian President Pezeshkian, stresses long-term peace in West Asia | Today’s news
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a telephone conversation with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday (June 30), the first phone call since Tehran and the US agreed to a 60-day ceasefire.
In a phone call with Pezeskian, Prime Minister Modi he welcomed the understanding between Iran and the United States. The Indian prime minister also emphasized the need to continue efforts for lasting peace, according to a press release from the Indian government.
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Modi reiterated India’s consistent position that all disputes must be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy. He also stressed the need to continue efforts to ensure lasting peace and stability in West Asia, while stressing the importance of protecting freedom of navigation and ensuring the uninterrupted flow of international trade.
“President Pezeshkian briefed the prime minister on recent developments in West Asia and the way forward,” the official statement said.
“The Prime Minister welcomed the understanding reached and reiterated India’s consistent position that all issues must be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy,” he added.
The talk comes as diplomatic efforts to preserve the fragile state continue peace agreement between Iran and the United States the following months of the conflict. India has consistently promoted peaceful resolution of regional disputes through diplomatic engagement and dialogue.
The statement also said: “The Prime Minister reiterated the need to continue efforts to ensure lasting peace and stability in the region and to protect freedom of navigation and trade.
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The Iranian president had earlier extended an official invitation to Prime Minister Modi to attend the funeral rites for Khamenei. Bihar Lieutenant General Syed Ata Hasnain and External Affairs Minister Pabitra Margherita will represent India at the funeral ceremony.
Meanwhile, two senior US envoys arrived in Qatar on Tuesday to discuss with mediators the implementation of an initial deal aimed at ending the conflict with Iran, although both sides ruled out direct talks during the latest round of diplomacy.
The US delegation includes Steve Witkoff, US President Donald Trump’s special envoy for the Middle East, and Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law. Their visit follows a weekend of military exchanges in the Persian Gulf, where tensions have resurfaced over efforts to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz to international shipping.
I’m talking inside Doha, Majed al-Ansari told the US envoy will not hold direct negotiations with Iranian officials. Instead, Qatari intermediaries will continue to carry messages between the two sides. He added that the current negotiations are taking place at the level of mediators and do not involve senior government officials from either country.
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Indirect negotiations between Washington and Tehran are not new. Both countries have previously relied on intermediaries for diplomatic engagement. However, the last two rounds of talks collapsed before the outbreak of a 12-day conflict launched by Israel against Iran in 2025, followed by this year’s military campaign, which the United States and Israel jointly launched on February 28.
Iran is also sending a delegation to Qatar this week. However, Esmail Baghaei said on Tuesday that Tehran had no plans to meet with the US delegation at any level during the upcoming visit, stressing the continued absence of direct diplomatic engagement.
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“What will take place in Doha tomorrow is a discussion with the Qatari side to implement parts of the MoU, including the release of blocked Iranian assets,” Baghaei told reporters at his own briefing.
Earlier this month, the United States and Iran reached an interim agreement to ease tensions while broader negotiations continue.
