Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said the Strait of Hormuz could reopen under internationally established principles if the United States ends what Tehran describes as its blockade and other activities in the region, while also inviting India to expand investment in the strategic Chabahar port.

In an exclusive interview with India Today Group Editor (Foreign Affairs) Geeta Mohan during his visit to New Delhi for the BRICS Summit, Pezeshkian discussed maritime security, India-Iran relations, nuclear negotiations, regional tensions and Iran’s ties with Russia and China. His comments came after his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during which concerns over freedom of navigation and the safety of seafarers were also discussed.

Strait Of Hormuz Talks With Oman

Responding to questions about the safety of Indian vessels and seafarers and the impact of disruptions on India’s energy supplies, Pezeshkian said Iran was in discussions with Oman on a specific maritime framework for the Strait of Hormuz.

“In this regard, we are dealing and have negotiation with Oman regarding a specific maritime framework,” Pezeshkian said.

He said a meeting involving Arab foreign ministers and Oman was expected to discuss an agreement concerning the strategic waterway, following which the International Maritime Organization would announce its status.

“Within the internationally established principles, the waterway would be open” provided the US ended its blockade and related activities, he said.

The comments are significant for India, which has closely followed developments affecting the movement of its vessels and seafarers through the Strait of Hormuz. Modi had earlier stressed the importance of protecting freedom of navigation and commerce, as well as the safety and well-being of seafarers, during his discussions with Pezeshkian in New Delhi.

Iran Invites India To Expand Chabahar Investment

Pezeshkian also called for deeper economic engagement between India and Iran, identifying Chabahar port as an important area for further cooperation.

Asked whether Chabahar and Indian investment in the port had featured in his discussions with Modi, the Iranian President said India could increase its investments and develop further partnerships with Tehran.

“India can invest there. Currently, it has some investments, and it is underway,” he said.

He said India and Iran could expand cooperation in trade and other sectors while developing a broader network of economic partnerships. Describing Iran as a geographical crossroads connecting north and south as well as east and west, Pezeshkian referred to the historic Silk Road and said Tehran was ready to support the revival of connectivity routes that had linked civilisations in the past.

Chabahar remains strategically important for India as a route connecting it with Iran and providing onward access to the wider region. India and Iran have been discussing broader bilateral engagement as both countries seek to strengthen their economic relationship.

Pezeshkian Says India-Iran Relations Are Improving

The Iranian President described ties with India as steadily strengthening and spoke positively about his engagement with Modi.

“Our relation with the Honorable Prime Minister of India… is increasingly getting better on a daily basis,” Pezeshkian said.

He attributed the relationship to the deep historical and cultural connections between the two countries and said Tehran wanted to build a new framework for India-Iran relations based on those longstanding links.

His visit to India for the BRICS Summit came amid heightened regional tensions and followed his meeting with Modi on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit earlier this month.

Mojtaba Khamenei Alive And Active, Says Iranian President

Pezeshkian also addressed speculation surrounding Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, saying he was alive and continuing to carry out his responsibilities.

“Thank God our supreme leader is alive,” Pezeshkian said.

He said the Supreme Leader was performing his duties, although his precise location was not known. According to Pezeshkian, speculation about his whereabouts had intensified because the US and Israel had been unable to locate him.

“Since they cannot locate his exact place, they are spreading such speculations,” he said.

Pezeshkian also underlined that the Supreme Leader remained the final authority on major decisions in Iran. Asked whether ultimate authority rested with the Supreme Leader, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps or the president, he said: “In our country, it is the supreme leader who has the final say.”

Iran Ready For Nuclear Talks If Trust Is Restored

On the nuclear issue, Pezeshkian rejected allegations that Iran was seeking nuclear weapons and said Tehran remained prepared to negotiate within the framework of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

“We are a member of NPT,” he said, arguing that Iran’s nuclear activities had been monitored and carried out within internationally recognised principles.

He said Tehran was prepared for negotiations within the NPT framework but stopped short of committing to immediate direct talks with US President Donald Trump.

According to Pezeshkian, trust would first have to be restored before Iran could return to negotiations with confidence.

“The atmosphere of trust should be established again,” he said, adding that Tehran required assurances that any agreement reached would be honoured.

He referred to previous negotiations involving Pakistan and Qatar, saying Iran had signed a memorandum of understanding that was subsequently abandoned. Tehran’s position, he said, was that sanctions should be lifted and attacks against Iran should stop.

Pezeshkian Rejects Claims Of War With Saudi Arabia

The Iranian President rejected suggestions that Iran was at war with Saudi Arabia and called for a broader regional security framework involving countries across the Gulf and neighbouring regions.

“We are not in war with Saudi Arabia,” he said, while distancing Iran from attacks carried out by the Houthis.

Pezeshkian called on Iran, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Pakistan and other regional countries to engage with one another to establish peace and security.

“There is no reason for this region to be in conflict,” he said, arguing that countries could retain their individual identities while cooperating on security and economic issues.

He also said Iran had no problem with the United Arab Emirates or other regional countries. However, he blamed the presence of US military bases in neighbouring countries for increasing tensions and urged governments not to allow their territories to be used for attacks against Iran.

Iran Blames US For Regional Divisions And Pressure

Pezeshkian accused Washington of pursuing a “divide and rule” strategy in West Asia and attempting to create divisions between Iran and Arab countries.

He said such tensions allowed outside powers to exploit the region’s oil resources while selling weapons to countries encouraged to view one another as threats.

The Iranian President said maintaining internal unity had been one of his priorities since taking office and argued that political and social differences should not be allowed to develop into deeper divisions.

He also called for greater unity across the Muslim world, saying differences between Shia and Sunni communities should not prevent regional countries from working together.

Iran Claims US Failed To Topple Its Government

Pezeshkian claimed that the United States had believed it could topple Iran’s government within 24 hours and establish what he described as a “puppet government”.

“They envisioned that just like Venezuela, they would be able to conquer our country within 24 hours and establish their own puppet government in Iran,” Pezeshkian said.

He said Washington had expected Iran to follow a trajectory similar to Syria, believing that the killing of the country’s leader, military commanders and senior officials would lead to the collapse of the government.

Assessing the conflict months after it began, Pezeshkian claimed that the confrontation had strengthened internal unity rather than weakened the Iranian government.

He said the US had initially sought to achieve its objectives through military action before targeting infrastructure and increasing pressure through sanctions and restrictions on trade routes. According to him, these efforts had failed to achieve their intended outcome.

Pezeshkian said even Iranians dissatisfied with the government had rallied around the country’s territorial integrity following the attacks. He also said some Iranians living abroad had returned to the country.

BRICS Can Counter Unilateralism, Says Pezeshkian

Pezeshkian described BRICS as an important platform through which Iran could expand trade and reduce its dependence on the US-led economic system.

He said the grouping should enable countries to cooperate independently of unilateral sanctions and reduce their reliance on the US economy and the dollar.

“The objective of BRICS” was to counter what he described as unilateralism, Pezeshkian said, arguing that countries including India, China and Russia could work together to reshape global trade and cooperation.

He said the BRICS New Development Bank could play a larger role in supporting joint investment and development among member countries. During the summit, Pezeshkian also called for deeper economic cooperation within BRICS and greater integration of trade and transport networks.

Russia And China Ties Not Based On External Support

Pezeshkian defended Iran’s relationships with Russia and China when asked about allegations that the two countries had provided Tehran with military, strategic and technological assistance.

He described both countries as friends and neighbours and said Iran had maintained longstanding ties with them.

Rejecting suggestions that Iran’s ability to withstand pressure was primarily dependent on outside military or technological support, Pezeshkian said: “It is our people who stood against it. It is not the technology.”

‘We Are Not Seeking War’

Throughout the interview, Pezeshkian maintained that Iran had not initiated the conflict and was acting in self-defence.

“We are not seeking war,” he said, while adding that Iran would respond to attacks against it.

He said Tehran had entered negotiations on several occasions and had been close to reaching an agreement before further attacks took place.

Pezeshkian’s broader message from New Delhi was that Iran wanted to deepen economic and strategic engagement with countries including India while encouraging regional powers to develop their own mechanisms for peace and security. At the same time, Tehran would continue to resist what it described as US pressure, sanctions and unilateralism.

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