Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian severely criticized the Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, terrorist attack that killed 26 tourists. In a telephone call to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, Pezeshkian reiterated Iran’s absolute condemnation of such acts of terrorism and underlined the need for regional cooperation to effectively combat terrorism.
Regional Cooperation Needed to Combat Terrorism
Pezeshkian’s comments were made in the aftermath of the vicious attack, one of India’s deadliest terror assaults in the past decades. The atrocity, which has shocked the international community, has resulted in unanimous condolences and sympathy for India. In his message, Pezeshkian emphasized the necessity to eradicate the underlying reasons for terrorism by regional cooperation and solidarity.
“These tragic incidents strengthen the collective responsibility of all nations in the region and push the regional nations to uproot the causes of terrorism through empathy, solidarity, and close collaboration to bring eternal peace and calmness to the nations in the region,” he added.
Honoring Gandhi and Nehru’s Legacy of Peace
In another gesture of support, Pezeshkian quoted India’s founding leaders, Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, as “messengers of peace and friendship.” He added that Iran highly respects these leaders, pointing out that their legacy of peace, friendship, and coexistence should continue to dominate the relationship of India with other nations.
“Drawing on the rich heritage of great Indian leaders, the president emphasized that Iran regards the Indian nation and its great figures, including Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru – who were messengers of peace, friendship, and coexistence – in high esteem,” the Iranian embassy in India stated.
Enhancing Bilateral Relations with Emphasis on Trade and Infrastructure
During the discussion, Pezeshkian indicated Iran’s desire for increased bilateral cooperation, especially on the areas of trade and infrastructure development. He cited the Chabahar Port, an important infrastructure venture established by India in Iran, as a key to increased trade with Central Asia, making the port a keystone for closer strategic engagement among India, Iran, and Russia.
Iran’s Proposal to Act as a Mediator between India and Pakistan
In a major diplomatic move, Pezeshkian also invited PM Modi to Tehran for more discussions on regional cooperation. The Iranian President reaffirmed Iran’s support for India’s initiatives to promote peace and stability in the region.
Prime Minister Modi, in turn, thanked Iran for its condolences after the Pahalgam attack and indicated India’s readiness to help after a recent fatal explosion at Iran’s Shahid Rajaee Port, which killed 14 people.
Applauding Iran’s positive role in regional peace, PM Modi said India stands in full support of Tehran’s efforts to further stability both in the region and globally. He also reiterated that differences should be resolved diplomatically, including the ones between Iran and the US.
Diplomatic Tensions and Iran’s Mediation Efforts
One day prior to the telephone call, Iran had volunteered to act as a mediator between India and Pakistan, after the tensions were increased in the wake of the Pahalgam attack. Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi called India and Pakistan “brotherly neighbours” and reaffirmed Tehran’s willingness to help to cool down the two countries’ tensions.
