Iran and India signaled their intent to deepen cooperation across multiple sectors, including oil, agriculture, and trade, during a series of meetings in late June held in Gurugram, India. These discussions took place on the sidelines of the 11th BRICS Energy Ministers Meeting, which convened leaders from a coalition of 11 emerging markets and developing countries.

Iran’s Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad met with India’s Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on June 26 to explore ways to reinvigorate bilateral collaboration in oil and gas. While India had been a major buyer of Iranian oil prior to U.S. sanctions imposed in 2019, energy trade between the two nations waned following Indian refiners’ cessation of Iranian oil imports. The two ministers discussed opportunities to expand cooperation in the energy sector and utilize strategic infrastructure, including Iran’s Chabahar port. Paknejad emphasized Iran’s readiness to develop relations with India broadly, especially in energy.

In a separate engagement on the first day of his visit, Paknejad also met with India’s Minister of Power, Housing, and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal, focusing on broadening ties within the energy sector. The 11th BRICS Energy Ministers Meeting, held over June 25-26, provided a platform for Iran to advance its energy diplomacy alongside partners including Brazil, China, Russia, South Africa, and others.

Agricultural cooperation also emerged as a key area of renewed focus. Iran’s Minister of Agriculture Gholamreza Nouri Ghezeljeh held discussions with India’s Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan during the BRICS Agriculture Ministers’ Meeting. The two officials highlighted joint challenges related to food security and stressed the importance of enhancing collaboration on agricultural research, technology, water management, mechanization, seed production, and food industries. Nouri expressed Iran’s readiness to launch a new phase of agricultural cooperation, proposing the establishment of a joint agricultural committee in Tehran to accelerate bilateral ties.

Chouhan acknowledged the deep-rooted strategic relationship between the two countries and underscored India’s commitment to expanding cooperation in agriculture through modern technology and sustainable development initiatives. Both ministers agreed on the necessity of continuing dialogue, accelerating the execution of existing agreements, and leveraging BRICS frameworks to promote South-South cooperation.

Further strengthening economic relations featured in a June 7 meeting between Iran’s Minister of Industry, Mining and Trade Alireza Razm Hosseini and India’s Minister of Heavy Industries. The discussion focused on addressing obstacles affecting economic actors and exploring solutions to unlock the extensive trade and investment potential between the two countries. Razm Hosseini called for an imminent meeting of the joint trade working group to review agreements, identify new opportunities, and boost economic exchanges.

Facilitation of business travel via easing visa processes and boosting direct flights between Iranian and Indian cities were also prioritized, with both sides recognizing the importance of such measures for fostering tourism, investment, and cultural exchanges. The officials agreed to continue consultations and strengthen cooperation across various economic and trade sectors with the aim of maximizing the available capacities to enhance bilateral relations.

Collectively, these meetings indicate a concerted effort by Iran and India to rebuild and expand cooperation amid evolving geopolitical and economic landscapes, emphasizing energy, agriculture, trade, and infrastructure connectivity as pillars of their partnership.