Modi Set to Meet Iranian President at SCO Summit to Discuss Energy and Seafarer Safety

Key facts

The scheduled encounter between Prime Minister Modi and Iran's executive leadership brings core bilateral priorities to the forefront of a major Eurasian diplomatic forum. As reported by India Today Video Desk, the meeting will serve as the first face-to-face bilateral interaction between the Indian prime minister and the Iranian president within this summit structure.

Central to the planned deliberations is the ongoing crisis in West Asia, where regional hostilities have disrupted vital international trade routes and raised severe concerns regarding energy transport through the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab-el-Mandeb. India has consistently advocated for restraint, constructive dialogue, and a return to diplomacy, positions that Prime Minister Modi is expected to reiterate during the discussions.

Beyond diplomatic rhetoric surrounding conflict de-escalation, the bilateral agenda includes two immediate economic and humanitarian priorities: securing reliable energy supplies and ensuring the security of Indian maritime workers. Given India’s heavy reliance on imported fossil fuels and the substantial presence of Indian crew members on commercial vessels in the Gulf region, the safety of maritime corridors and the protection of seafaring personnel have emerged as top national security interests for New Delhi.

Why it matters

The meeting carries substantial economic, geopolitical, and humanitarian stakes for India, Iran, and the broader global economy. India imports more than 85 percent of its crude oil requirements, leaving its domestic economy exceptionally vulnerable to supply interruptions or price spikes caused by conflict in the Middle East. While Indian oil purchases from Iran were largely halted in 2019 following the expiration of U.S. sanctions waivers, any broader destabilization of Iranian energy infrastructure or transport chokepoints directly threatens global energy markets and India's overall energy security.

Furthermore, India is one of the world's largest suppliers of merchant seafaring labor, contributing approximately 10 to 12 percent of global maritime crew members. Thousands of Indian mariners navigate merchant tankers and container ships daily through the Strait of Hormuz—a narrow choke point through which roughly 20 percent of the world's petroleum passes—and the wider Arabian Sea. Past incidents involving ship seizures, drone strikes, and naval detentions in regional waters have directly impacted Indian crew members, making direct governmental channels between New Delhi and Tehran crucial for rapid crisis intervention, crew safety assurances, and consular access.

Geopolitically, the encounter underscores India's commitment to "multi-alignment"—a doctrine that seeks to maintain constructive working relationships with competing global and regional powers. New Delhi maintains strategic partnerships with Israel, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States, while simultaneously preserving core diplomatic and infrastructure ties with Tehran. By engaging directly with Iranian leadership within the multilateral Shanghai Cooperation Organisation framework, India demonstrates its intention to remain an active regional stakeholder capable of communicating with all parties in West Asia.

Bilateral relations between India and Iran have historically been anchored by geographical proximity, shared cultural links, and complementary strategic objectives, particularly regarding connectivity into Central Asia. A cornerstone of this economic partnership is the development of the Shahid Beheshti Port at Chabahar, located on Iran’s southeastern coast along the Gulf of Oman. Designed as an oceanic deep-water port, Chabahar provides India with a direct trade transit route to Afghanistan and landlocked Central Asian states, bypassing overland routes through neighboring Pakistan.

In May 2024, India Ports Global Limited signed a long-term, 10-year contract with Iran’s Maritime and Ports Organization to operate the Shahid Beheshti Terminal at Chabahar Port. The agreement signaled a renewed commitment from both nations to solidify long-term commercial logistics, despite the lingering threat of secondary U.S. sanctions targeting Iranian infrastructure projects.

However, the political and economic context surrounding bilateral ties has shifted significantly over the past decade. Prior to May 2019, Iran was among India’s top three crude oil suppliers. Purchases ceased after the United States re-imposed stringent sanctions under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act following the U.S. withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action nuclear agreement. Since then, India has sought alternative energy suppliers, including Middle Eastern Gulf monarchies and Russia, while seeking to prevent economic sanctions from completely severing trade ties with Tehran.

At the same time, safety in regional waters has deteriorated amid heightened military actions involving state and non-state actors. Incidents such as the April 2024 Iranian seizure of the Portuguese-flagged container ship MSC Aries near the Strait of Hormuz—which had 17 Indian crew members aboard—highlighted the extreme risks faced by Indian mariners operating in disputed maritime zones. Rapid intervention by Indian diplomats eventually secured consular access and the gradual release of the crew, establishing a practical precedent for why high-level bilateral communication lines must remain active.

The venue for the bilateral meeting, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, adds another layer of institutional context. Established in 2001 by China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, the Eurasian political, economic, and security alliance has expanded over the years. India and Pakistan became full members in 2017, while Iran officially attained full membership in July 2023, followed by Belarus in 2024. The platform provides a formal venue for member states to address regional security, economic integration, and counter-terrorism, offering New Delhi and Tehran a regular mechanism for top-level dialogue.

Reaction

While official communiqués will be issued following the conclusion of the summit, international diplomatic observers, shipping industry bodies, and regional analysts are monitoring the planned discussions closely. Maritime unions and international seafaring organizations, such as the International Transport Workers' Federation, consistently urge sovereign governments to prioritize crew safety and non-combatant immunity in active conflict zones.

Diplomatic observers in Western capitals, particularly in Washington, will monitor the meeting for indications of expanding economic collaboration or infrastructure development that might intersect with existing international sanction regimes. Meanwhile, Gulf Arab nations and Israel will evaluate India’s engagement with Tehran through the lens of regional security balance, anticipating that New Delhi will use its diplomatic influence to advocate against further regional escalation or trade disruptions.

What we don't know yet

Several operational details and strategic outcomes remain unverified or undecided ahead of the formal bilateral sessions. It remains unclear whether the two leaders will announce formal agreements or protocols governing maritime emergency protocols for Indian seafarers navigating Persian Gulf waters. Furthermore, while energy security is featured prominently on the meeting agenda, the exact mechanism by which India and Iran might resume or structure non-sanctioned energy transactions remains unspecified in available accounts.

Additionally, the reporting from India Today Video Desk does not outline whether formal proposals regarding the Chabahar Port's expansion or financial settlement systems designed to bypass standard dollar-based banking networks will be formally signed during this encounter. The extent to which Iran will solicit active diplomatic mediation from India regarding its broader regional tensions also remains an open question.

What to watch

This report is based on original reporting by India Today Video Desk.