In call with Modi, Iran President proposes regional security framework, urges India's BRICS role to end hostilities

NEW DELHI: (Mar 22) In a phone call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned attacks on critical infrastructure in West Asia and called for keeping the critical shipping lanes "open and secure", amid major disruption in global energy supplies in view of Tehran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

Significantly, the Iranian president proposed setting up a regional security framework comprising West Asian countries to bring peace and stability in the region "without foreign interference," according to an Iranian readout of the talks.

Pezeshkian also urged India, as the current BRICS chair, to leverage its "independent role" to halt the US-Israel hostilities against Iran.