Stressing the need to further strengthen India-Iran relations, Lucknow-based cleric and General Secretary of the All-India Shia Personal Law Board Maulana Yasoob Abbas on Saturday (September 12, 2026) said expanding cooperation between the two countries in education, trade, culture, science, technology, connectivity and energy is key for regional and global progress and prosperity.

“I met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in New Delhi on Friday (September 11) and called for further strengthening of the historic ties between India and Iran. I handed over a letter to the President of Iran, stressing the need to further strengthen India-Iran relations and condemning the attacks on Iran. India and Iran are two ancient civilisations with centuries-old cultural, intellectual, spiritual and trade relations. He stressed the need to further expand cooperation between the two countries in education, trade, culture, science, technology, connectivity and energy,” Mr. Abbas told The Hindu. 

Mr. Abbas welcomed President Pezeshkian on behalf of the Shia community in India and described his visit as an important opportunity to deepen friendship and understanding between the people of the two countries. I expressed hope that under President Pezeshkian’s leadership, India-Iran relations would enter a new and stronger phase.

“I expressed deep concern over the continuing tensions in West Asia and called for an immediate reduction in hostilities. I hope that the ongoing conflict will end soon and that peace and stability will return to the region. In my brief interaction, I expressed grief over the martyrdom of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei and strongly condemned the killing of innocent children, teachers and civilians in the attack on Shajareh Tayyebeh Elementary School in Minab. The killing of innocent children was a tragedy that had shaken the conscience of humanity,” said the Shia cleric. 

During the meeting, Mr. Abbas condemned terrorism, extremism and all forms of violence, and also denounced the attacks on Iran. “The people of India, particularly the Shia community, stand for peace, dialogue, humanity and justice. We urge our Iranian brothers to protect the interests of India and the Indian people in the West Asia region across land and sea, including the peaceful passing of ships with Indian flag,” he said. 

Stressing the need to further strengthen India-Iran relations, Lucknow-based cleric and General Secretary of the All-India Shia Personal Law Board Maulana Yasoob Abbas on Saturday (September 12, 2026) said expanding cooperation between the two countries in education, trade, culture, science, technology, connectivity and energy is key for regional and global progress and prosperity.

“I met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in New Delhi on Friday (September 11) and called for further strengthening of the historic ties between India and Iran. I handed over a letter to the President of Iran, stressing the need to further strengthen India-Iran relations and condemning the attacks on Iran. India and Iran are two ancient civilisations with centuries-old cultural, intellectual, spiritual and trade relations. He stressed the need to further expand cooperation between the two countries in education, trade, culture, science, technology, connectivity and energy,” Mr. Abbas told The Hindu. 

Mr. Abbas welcomed President Pezeshkian on behalf of the Shia community in India and described his visit as an important opportunity to deepen friendship and understanding between the people of the two countries. I expressed hope that under President Pezeshkian’s leadership, India-Iran relations would enter a new and stronger phase.

“I expressed deep concern over the continuing tensions in West Asia and called for an immediate reduction in hostilities. I hope that the ongoing conflict will end soon and that peace and stability will return to the region. In my brief interaction, I expressed grief over the martyrdom of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei and strongly condemned the killing of innocent children, teachers and civilians in the attack on Shajareh Tayyebeh Elementary School in Minab. The killing of innocent children was a tragedy that had shaken the conscience of humanity,” said the Shia cleric. 

During the meeting, Mr. Abbas condemned terrorism, extremism and all forms of violence, and also denounced the attacks on Iran. “The people of India, particularly the Shia community, stand for peace, dialogue, humanity and justice. We urge our Iranian brothers to protect the interests of India and the Indian people in the West Asia region across land and sea, including the peaceful passing of ships with Indian flag,” he said. 

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said Iran shares a long-standing, historic and civilisational relationship with India and attaches great importance to its ties with the country.

On Tuesday (September 8, 2026), the Iranian Embassy in India released a statement from Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson where he said, referring to the recent meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in Kyrgyzstan’s capital, Bishkek, that “President Masoud Pezeshkian met with the Indian Prime Minister in Bishkek. Our relationship with India is built on long-standing civilisational and historic ties, and we highly value our partnership.”

In the first top-level meeting between Iran and India since the beginning of the war on Iran this February, Mr. Modi on August 31 met Mr. Pezeshkian in Kyrgyzstan’s capital Bishkek and urged him to ensure peace and stability in West Asia and freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

Talking about the 18th BRICS Summit, Mr. Baghaei said, “We will certainly make use of the opportunity provided by the BRICS Summit to continue our discussions and consultations with India in areas of mutual interest.”

Just days before the BRICS summit, Mr. Baghaei also said that Chabahar Port is one of the issues of bilateral talks between India and Iran. He said, “Various issues are usually discussed during consultations between Iran and India, including the Chabahar Port, which is important to both countries.”

The Chabahar port is being developed by India and Iran to boost connectivity and trade ties. Both countries are also strongly pitching for making Chabahar port an integral part of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC).

Chabahar provides India with direct access to Afghanistan, bypassing Pakistan, which denies India land transit routes. It enhances India’s trade routes and reduces dependence on traditional maritime chokepoints.

India will be hosting the 18th BRICS Summit on September 12-13 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. The summit will bring together leaders of BRICS member and partner countries as well as outreach invitees, according to the Ministry of External Affairs.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said Iran shares a long-standing, historic and civilisational relationship with India and attaches great importance to its ties with the country.

On Tuesday (September 8, 2026), the Iranian Embassy in India released a statement from Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson where he said, referring to the recent meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in Kyrgyzstan’s capital, Bishkek, that “President Masoud Pezeshkian met with the Indian Prime Minister in Bishkek. Our relationship with India is built on long-standing civilisational and historic ties, and we highly value our partnership.”

In the first top-level meeting between Iran and India since the beginning of the war on Iran this February, Mr. Modi on August 31 met Mr. Pezeshkian in Kyrgyzstan’s capital Bishkek and urged him to ensure peace and stability in West Asia and freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

Talking about the 18th BRICS Summit, Mr. Baghaei said, “We will certainly make use of the opportunity provided by the BRICS Summit to continue our discussions and consultations with India in areas of mutual interest.”

Just days before the BRICS summit, Mr. Baghaei also said that Chabahar Port is one of the issues of bilateral talks between India and Iran. He said, “Various issues are usually discussed during consultations between Iran and India, including the Chabahar Port, which is important to both countries.”

The Chabahar port is being developed by India and Iran to boost connectivity and trade ties. Both countries are also strongly pitching for making Chabahar port an integral part of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC).

Chabahar provides India with direct access to Afghanistan, bypassing Pakistan, which denies India land transit routes. It enhances India’s trade routes and reduces dependence on traditional maritime chokepoints.

India will be hosting the 18th BRICS Summit on September 12-13 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. The summit will bring together leaders of BRICS member and partner countries as well as outreach invitees, according to the Ministry of External Affairs.

The U.S. has sanctioned four India-based companies for importing petroleum and petrochemical products from Iran, according to a press release by the U.S. State Department.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Monday (August 24, 2026) announced ‘Operation Economic Outcast’, which essentially involved new sanctions that aim to block all potential sources of revenue for Iran. The U.S. has also told countries to cut economic ties with Tehran or face retaliation.

Mr. Bessent described it as an unprecedented campaign to sever Iran’s financial lifelines. It broadens the risk of secondary sanctions for entities — which can be countries, businesses or organisations — continuing to do business with Tehran.

Among the four “India-based companies” facing action is a customs broker identified as Portease Partners LLP and its partners Indrismiya Ashrafmiya Sheikh and Harish Ramachandra Rangi. They facilitated the import of multiple shipments of Iranian petrochemical products, the State Department said in the release on Monday (August 24, 2026).

Other Indian companies facing action are Sadashiva Overseas Limited; PP Softtech Private Limited, along with its director Prashant Garg; and Prakrutees Infra Impex Private Limited.

Mr. Sheikh, Mr. Rangi and Mr. Garg are Indian nationals, according to the release.

Sadashiva Overseas imported Iranian-origin petroleum products worth around $69 million from multiple companies, while PP Softtech and Prakrutees Infra imported petroleum products worth $25 million each, the press release said.

These companies were put on a list for “knowingly engaging in a significant transaction for the purchase, acquisition, sale, transport, or marketing of petroleum or petroleum products from Iran,” it said.

State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott on Monday (August 24, 2026) said in a statement: “Today, the United States took sweeping action against multiple entities, individuals, and vessels enabling the Iranian regime’s destabilising activities.” “Such activities include attacks against US forces and allies in the region, illicit weapons procurement, cyber intrusions into American infrastructure, and the movement of energy products whose sale funds terrorism globally,” he added.