Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian arrived in the Indian capital, New Delhi, on Friday to participate in the BRICS summit, amid renewed tensions between his country and the United States, according to footage broadcast by Indian television channels.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to receive President Pezeshkian, who is making his first official visit to India, on Friday afternoon for bilateral talks, according to the Indian Ministry of External Affairs.
The BRICS summit begins on Saturday and is scheduled to last two days.
Pezeshkian said, according to the official Iranian news agency IRNA, "The BRICS group was established to counter unilateralism."
The bloc was founded in 2009 as a forum of major emerging economies seeking to increase their influence within international institutions dominated by Western powers.
It has since expanded to include Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, countries whose positions differ on the war launched by the United States and Israel at the end of February.
Also participating in the summit are UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, according to the Indian Ministry of External Affairs.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi will also arrive in New Delhi.
Modi, who met with Pezeshkian in Bishkek earlier this month, will discuss energy issues and Indian investments in Iran's Chabahar port.
New Delhi has made significant investments in the port as an alternative trade route to Afghanistan and Central Asia that bypasses Pakistan.
However, the war with Iran has increased concerns about the port's security and future.
According to IRNA, Pezeshkian will also meet with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
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