Jaishankar, Araghchi hold talks amid rising West Asia tensions

External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar on Friday held talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi in New Delhi, with discussions focusing on the evolving situation in West Asia, regional security concerns and bilateral matters of mutual interest.The meeting took place on the sidelines of the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting being hosted by India in the national capital.
In a post on X after the meeting, Jaishankar said he had a “detailed conversation” with his Iranian counterpart during the morning interaction.“Had a detailed conversation with FM Abbas Araghchi of Iran this morning in Delhi,” Jaishankar said.He added that the two leaders reviewed the developments unfolding in West Asia and discussed their broader implications, along with issues concerning India-Iran bilateral relations.“Discussed the situation in West Asia and its implications. Also exchanged views on bilateral issues of mutual interest,” he said, while also appreciating Araghchi’s participation in the BRICS meeting hosted by India.

Had a detailed conversation with FM Abbas Araghchi of Iran this morning in Delhi. @araghchi

Discussed the situation in West Asia and its implications. Also exchanged views on bilateral issues of mutual interest.

Appreciate his participation in #BRICSIndia2026 pic.twitter.com/cLaM0l15hI

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) May 15, 2026

The Jaishankar-Araghchi meeting came a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi met the Iranian foreign minister on the margins of the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.The diplomatic engagements are being viewed as part of continued efforts by both countries to maintain close coordination amid heightened tensions and instability in West Asia.India is hosting the two-day BRICS ministerial meeting on May 14 and 15 in New Delhi, bringing together foreign ministers and senior officials from member nations at a time when geopolitical developments in West Asia remain a key area of global concern.
Meanwhile, Araghchi, while addressing the BRICS foreign ministers’ gathering, called for stronger collective resistance against what he described as coercive pressure tactics by the United States.Speaking at the meeting, the Iranian foreign minister said several nations represented at the summit had experienced similar forms of external pressure.“To virtually everyone in this room, our resistance against US bullying is not an unfamiliar battle. So many of us encounter slight variations of the same repugnant coercion. It is high time for us to jointly step up and work towards making clear that those practices belong in the dustbin of history,” he said.Araghchi also expresed concern against what he termed the actions of declining global powers attempting to retain dominance.“Today, our nations are closer to one another than ever before, and we cannot ignore the common and dangerous challenge we all face. History has shown that empires in decline will stop at nothing to arrest their inevitable fates. A wounded animal will desperately claw and roar on its way down,” he added.