India remains in ongoing discussions with key stakeholders to secure a sustainable path forward for the Chabahar Port project amid shifting regulatory regimes and regional conflicts in West Asia, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri stated on Monday. Addressing a press briefing following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's bilateral meeting with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on the sidelines of the SCO summit in Bishkek, Misri underlined the long-standing nature of India's engagement with the port project and highlighted how external developments in the region have impacted the broader cooperation framework between the countries involved.

"As you are aware, we have been associated with this project over a long period of time. But as you are also aware, the conflict that has broken out in West Asia over the last several months has also had an attendant impact on cooperation of various kinds between various countries in this region," Misri said, pointing to the cascading effects of regional instability on infrastructure and economic partnerships. He added that certain developments concerning the regulatory regime applicable to activities at Chabahar Port had emerged as a result, and that India remains in active discussion with various stakeholders to find a sustainable way forward for this element of cooperation, which he said carries benefits for multiple parties in the region.

Beyond the infrastructure-related discussions, Misri also shared details from the broader bilateral talks between Modi and Pezeshkian, describing the tone of the meeting as warm and forward-looking despite the tense regional backdrop. He said the Iranian president had thanked India for its support of ongoing efforts to foster peace in the region, noting that Pezeshkian made the point that the continuation of the conflict serves no one's interest and that its prolongation does not meaningfully benefit any party involved. Given India's close civilizational, cultural and people-to-people ties with Iran, Pezeshkian reportedly noted that New Delhi has a role to play in supporting broader efforts toward regional peace.

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The meeting took place against the backdrop of a sensitive period for India-Iran relations, with the ongoing conflict in West Asia continuing to affect regional security dynamics and global economic routes, giving added weight to direct communication between the two governments. According to officials, discussions between the two leaders also touched on the safety and welfare of the Indian community in Iran, as well as Indian seafarers working aboard vessels operating in the region, with both sides agreeing to maintain close contact to address any challenges that may arise.

Chabahar Port has long been viewed by New Delhi as a strategically important gateway for trade with Afghanistan and Central Asia, offering India an alternative connectivity route that reduces dependence on routes passing through Pakistan. The renewed emphasis on finding a sustainable path forward for the project reflects its continued significance to India's regional trade and connectivity strategy, even as the broader geopolitical environment surrounding Iran remains complicated by sanctions and shifting international dynamics. Misri's comments came as part of Modi's broader four-day visit to Kyrgyzstan, where he is attending the 26th SCO Summit alongside leaders from China, Russia, Pakistan, Iran, Belarus and several Central Asian states, as well as the opening ceremony of the 6th World Nomad Games, underscoring the multilateral setting in which the India-Iran discussions on Chabahar and regional stability took place.

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