The annual bilateral political consultations between India and Iran, held in Tehran on September 9, 2025, marked a significant continuation of high-level diplomatic engagement between the two nations. 

The meeting was co-chaired by Anand Prakash, Joint Secretary (Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran division) of the Ministry of External Affairs of India, and Mohammad Reza Bahrami, Director General for South Asia Division in Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), this round of talks carried particular weight as the two sides recalled the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, and used the occasion to signal a shared commitment to deepening their partnership in line with evolving mutual interests.

The discussions encompassed a comprehensive review of all dimensions of bilateral cooperation. Connectivity emerged as a priority, with both sides closely reviewing progress on the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC).

This strategic corridor, in which Iran plays a pivotal role, is aimed at improving multi-modal transport linkages between India, Iran, Russia, Central Asia, and Europe, thereby significantly reducing both cost and transit time for trade. Linked to this, the development of Chabahar Port as a crucial regional hub was an implicit part of connectivity dialogues, underscoring India’s and Iran’s shared goal of enhancing regional integration while bypassing bottlenecks created by other geopolitical alignments.

Economic, financial, trade, and commercial matters were also extensively discussed. Both delegations explored ways to revitalise bilateral trade mechanisms which have faced challenges in the past due to sanctions-related restrictions, fluctuations in energy trade, and payment settlement complexities.

The review sought to identify pragmatic pathways for greater trade diversification beyond hydrocarbons, with a focus on areas such as pharmaceuticals, heavy engineering, agricultural exports, and emerging industrial cooperation. Iran, with its energy resources and strategic geographic positioning, continues to be an important partner for India’s long-term energy security planning, while India represents a major consumer market and technology provider for Iran, making the economic complementarity between the two nations particularly evident.

Geopolitical and regional dynamics also formed a critical part of the consultations. Both sides exchanged views on pressing regional security concerns, including developments in Afghanistan, the broader Middle East, and the Persian Gulf region. There was alignment on the need for political stability, non-interference, and fostering dialogue-based conflict resolution in the wider West and South Asian neighbourhood—issues where both India and Iran have overlapping security concerns as well as opportunities to coordinate.

At the multilateral level, India and Iran placed strong emphasis on strengthening cooperation within the United Nations and other regional and multilateral forums. The two sides underscored their intent to continue supporting each other’s candidatures, initiatives, and shared agendas in these institutions, signalling a convergence of views on global governance reforms, multipolarity, and the strengthening of South-South cooperation.

Institutionally, both New Delhi and Tehran expressed satisfaction at the regular convening of annual political consultations, highlighting them as a structured mechanism that builds trust and continuity in the relationship.

They underlined the importance of synchronising these Political Consultations with the higher-tier Foreign Office Consultations, held at the Foreign Secretary/Deputy Foreign Minister level. This tiered framework allows for both pragmatic, working-level stocktaking and broader strategic direction-setting in bilateral ties. As a clear sign of sustenance in the dialogue, the two nations agreed to host the next round of such political consultations in New Delhi in 2026.

Beyond the formalities of dialogue, the MEA also emphasised the deep-rooted cultural and historical linkages between India and Iran that continue to serve as an enduring foundation for contemporary relations. Until 1947, the two countries shared a land border; centuries of interaction have shaped commonalities in language, literature, art, architecture, and traditions. This shared heritage reinforces modern cooperation, adding a layer of soft-power connectivity that underlines political and economic exchanges.

Taken together, the 2025 consultations in Tehran underscored a relationship that is both historical and strategic, navigating regional complexities and global challenges while looking for realistic avenues of cooperation.

By placing equal weight on connectivity frameworks like INSTC, energy and trade partnerships, coordination on regional geopolitics, and multilateral cooperation, the consultations reaffirmed the mutually complementary strategic outlooks of India and Iran. With the next consultations set for 2026 in New Delhi, both countries signalled their intent not only to maintain momentum in dialogue but to elevate cooperation in alignment with fast-changing geopolitical equations.