First-Ever In-Person Talks Between Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi Held in Shanghai

First-Ever In-Person Talks Between Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi Held in Shanghai

[Tianjin, China – July 15, 2025] – On the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Tianjin, China, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi held an important bilateral meeting. This marks the first face-to-face discussion between the two ministers following recent escalations between Iran and Israel.

Jaishankar confirmed the meeting himself through a post on X (formerly Twitter), stating:

“Good to catch up again with FM @araghchi of Iran, this time on the sidelines of the SCO Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Tianjin.”

Face-to-Face Dialogue Amid Iran-Israel Tensions

Given the recent spike in military tensions between Iran and Israel, analysts consider this meeting diplomatically significant. Earlier, in June, during a phone call, Jaishankar had thanked Araghchi for Iran’s assistance in safely evacuating Indian nationals caught in the Israel-Iran conflict zone.

Significance in the Context of India-China Relations

Another important dimension of this visit is that it marks Jaishankar’s first visit to China since the deadly 2020 Galwan Valley clash. He arrived in Tianjin for the SCO meeting after completing a visit to Singapore and traveling via Beijing.

On the day of the meeting, Jaishankar and other foreign ministers of SCO member states also met with Chinese President Xi Jinping, sparking fresh speculation about potential improvements in India-China diplomatic ties.

Wang Yi’s Upcoming Visit to India

Reports suggest that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is expected to visit India next month. During his visit, he is likely to hold high-level talks with India’s National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval as part of the ongoing Special Representatives' dialogue process aimed at resolving the India-China border dispute.

This meeting is not only a key step in strengthening India-Iran bilateral ties, but also holds broader implications for regional geopolitics and the evolving India-China diplomatic landscape. At a time when the Middle East is fraught with instability and India is actively pursuing a strategy of multi-aligned diplomacy, the Jaishankar-Araghchi dialogue is being viewed as a preliminary signal of New Delhi’s approach to navigating complex diplomatic challenges ahead.