‘No war’: Iranian President Pezeshkian calls on India-hosted BRICS to play role in stopping aggression during phone call with PM Modi

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday had a phone conversation with Iranian President Masood Pezeshkian in which Tehran called on the BRICS countries chaired by India to play an independent role in “stopping aggression against Tehran” amid the escalating crisis in the Middle East.This is the second dialogue between the two leaders since tensions erupted on February 28.“The President of the Islamic Republic of Iran held a telephone conversation with the Prime Minister of India to discuss and exchange views on bilateral relations and regional and international developments regarding Iran’s continued military aggression by the United States and the Zionist regime,” the Iranian Embassy in India said in a statement.President Pezeshkian further mentioned that India holds the rotating chairmanship of BRICS and “called on BRICS countries to play an independent role in stopping aggression against Iran and maintaining regional and international peace and stability.”The Iranian president outlined “the scale of the Zionist regime’s aggression, illegal attacks and crimes, stressing that Iran did not start a war.” he told Prime Minister Modi “The aggressors, without any justification, logic or legal basis, launched military attacks on Iran during the ongoing nuclear negotiations, killing the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, senior military commanders and a number of unarmed civilians, including innocent school children, and targeting public infrastructure,” referring to attacks carried out during the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump.Pezeshkian further claimed that the United States targeted Minab’s school, describing it as one of the schools with the highest civilian casualties in the conflict.“The United States attacked schools in Minab from a base in a neighboring country that houses military installations, resulting in the brutal murder of 168 innocent school children,” the president said.Pezeshkian also dismissed U.S. claims that the military action was aimed at preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.He said that in multiple meetings attended by the Supreme Leader, “the late leader of the Islamic Revolution firmly opposed nuclear weapons and issued administrative and religious directives prohibiting any efforts to develop nuclear weapons,” according to the release. He also rejected accusations that Iran is a source of regional instability and claimed that Israel “has used the pretext of maintaining security to carry out attacks and assassinations in countries such as Lebanon, Gaza, Iran, Iraq and Qatar” while exacerbating unrest.Iran’s president reiterated Iran’s willingness to engage in dialogue with global leaders, including outside the United Nations, to verify and monitor its nuclear program. He described the actions of the United States and Israel as “extremely inhumane and immoral” and strongly condemned them.The Iranian president also proposed the establishment of a regional security framework composed of West Asian countries aimed at ensuring peace and stability in the region through regional cooperation free from external interference. Expressing deep concern over the escalation of tensions, the press release said, “Prime Minister Modi strongly condemned attacks on energy infrastructure, warning that such acts pose serious risks to global food and energy security and agricultural exports”.Referring to his ongoing consultations with world leaders, the Prime Minister also reiterated that “war is in no one’s interest, so all parties should move towards peace as soon as possible”.The Prime Minister also stressed the need to ensure the security of the Strait of Hormuz and maintain freedom of navigation in the Persian Gulf, given its critical role in global trade and energy supplies.Also read: ‘Condemn attacks on critical infrastructure’: PM Modi talks to Iranian President, says ‘water lanes must remain open’Earlier, sharing details of the same conversation on X, PM Modi said, “Condemning the attack on critical infrastructure in the region, which threatens regional stability and disrupts global supply chains.”He added: “Reiterating the importance of maintaining freedom of navigation and ensuring waterways remain open and safe.”The Prime Minister also appreciated Tehran’s support for Indian nationals, saying he “appreciates Iran’s continued support for the safety and security of Indian nationals in Iran”.The conversation came amid new reports of a joint U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran’s uranium enrichment facility at Natanz. Iranian media said the site had been targeted again, but there were no immediate signs of a radioactive leak.Amid growing concerns over an energy crisis, India has stepped up diplomatic engagement with Iran, focusing on ensuring uninterrupted energy supplies and the security of key shipping routes.The government says it is prioritizing dialogue and diplomacy over joining any U.S.-led military campaign in the region.Earlier, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had also spoken to his Iranian counterpart Seyyed Abbas Araghchi and “conveyed Navroz and Eid greetings”.“Our conversation was about the latest developments in the conflict and its impact on the larger region,” Jaishankar posted on X.