New Delhi — Iran said it would welcome any Indian initiative aimed at reducing tensions in West Asia, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi said during a briefing in the Indian capital ahead of the BRICS foreign ministers meeting.
Gharibabadi praised India’s impartial stance, saying New Delhi has consistently supported and sought peace. He highlighted close cultural ties between the two countries and described strong people-to-people connections as a foundation for bilateral relations.
Tehran, he added, would be receptive to diplomatic moves from India intended to calm regional tensions. Any such initiative from New Delhi would be welcomed, he said as delegations gathered for the BRICS meeting.
On the Chabahar port project, Gharibabadi reiterated its strategic importance to Iran and noted India’s keen interest in expanding cooperation there. He suggested the pace and scope of further work on Chabahar largely rests with India.
Speaking about BRICS, the deputy foreign minister complimented India’s role within the grouping and expressed hope that the meeting would produce a joint declaration. He also indicated that one Arab BRICS member was pushing for language condemning Iran over attacks on neighbouring states, without naming the country.
Addressing tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, Gharibabadi said Iran is prepared to guarantee maritime access provided certain conditions are met: an end to what Tehran calls a naval blockade, removal of US sanctions, release of Iranian funds, and steps toward ending the broader conflict. He offered that Iran would reopen Hormuz if the United States lifted the blockade, rescinded sanctions, returned frozen funds and terminated military actions.
He confirmed ongoing talks with Oman on a mechanism to levy maritime service fees on vessels transiting the strait. Those charges would likely be tied to cargo volume and the services provided, but the mechanism has not yet been finalised.
Gharibabadi said Iran is coordinating with India to facilitate the passage of Indian-flagged vessels through the Strait of Hormuz amid heightened Gulf tensions. He said about 11 Indian ships have already transited under these arrangements, a level of facilitation not extended to other countries, and noted the importance of the route for India’s energy imports.
On mediation efforts between Tehran and Washington, Gharibabadi listed a series of countries that have helped open channels of contact in the past, noting Egypt, Qatar and Oman previously played roles and that Pakistan recently brought forward a peace initiative. He stressed mediators act to facilitate contacts rather than negotiate on behalf of either side.
Regarding nuclear talks, he said Iran remains open to discussions on issues such as uranium production, enrichment and stockpiles. At the same time he accused the United States and Israel of abandoning diplomacy despite what Tehran saw as substantial progress in negotiations, alleging that military strikes followed productive talks. He rejected US demands that Iran cease all enrichment and transfer enriched material to the United States, calling such demands unacceptable.
Warning that Iran would respond if hostilities resumed, Gharibabadi said Tehran would defend itself and retaliate should a ceasefire collapse. He asserted that Iran’s missile capabilities have successfully countered actions by Israel and the United States, despite limitations in other advanced military equipment.
India will host the BRICS foreign ministers meeting on May 14 and 15, chaired by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, with ministers and delegations from member and partner countries participating. The reporting is based on an ANI feed.
