Iran Petroleum Minister Visits India to Expand Energy Ties

Mohsen Paknejad, Iran's Minister of Petroleum, arrived in India on June 24, 2026, to attend the 11th BRICS Energy Ministerial meeting in Gurugram and conduct high-level bilateral discussions in New Delhi. The visit focuses on expanding cooperation in the hydrocarbon and energy sectors, exploring new investment opportunities, and addressing the challenges of global energy markets.

During the visit, Paknejad met with Indian Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and Union Minister Manohar Lal. These discussions seek to advance strategic energy collaboration following a June 17 signing of a 14-point Memorandum of Understanding. This agreement includes a specific roadmap for a final deal mediated by Qatar and Pakistan, signaling a coordinated diplomatic effort to stabilize energy imports and infrastructure projects.

Paknejad confirmed that Iran is currently operating under a 60-day sanctions waiver agreed upon with the United States, providing a temporary window for these economic negotiations. The broader BRICS gathering in Gurugram, themed Energy for All, is held under India's 2026 BRICS Chairship. The ministerial meeting focuses on three primary pillars: energy security, sustainability, and innovation to ensure equitable energy access across member states.

The diplomatic push also included a meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Ghadir Nezamipour, Iran's Deputy Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, which took place following the BRICS Meeting of Heads of Security Agencies and National Security Advisers.