PM Modi, in first call with Iran's Pezeshkian, stresses freedom of navigation in Hormuz; invites Iran to BRICS Summit

📌 Summary:

• PM Modi held his first phone conversation with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, underlining "freedom of navigation" in the Strait of Hormuz — critical to India's energy imports
• Iran signed an MoU with US President Trump on June 17 to end hostilities after the recent US-Israel war
• Modi formally invited Iran to the upcoming BRICS Leaders' Summit to be hosted by India, hoping it would strengthen multilateral cooperation
• Modi conveyed condolences over the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei (killed in a US-Israeli strike on Feb 28); India to send a special delegation to the funeral (Tehran, July 4; burial at Mashhad July 9)
• Since the Iran-US MoU, 12+ India-bound vessels (incl. 3 India-flagged crude tankers, LPG and fertiliser carriers) have transited Hormuz; 10-12 India-flagged vessels still in the Persian Gulf, with strict ship-security procedures maintained
• Indian delegation to funeral to be led by Bihar Governor Lt Gen (retd) Syed Ata Hasnain and MoS MEA Pabitra Margherita

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS2 IR — India's West Asia policy, energy security, maritime chokepoints, and BRICS multilateralism.

📝 Prelims Facts:

• Strait of Hormuz links the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman/Arabian Sea; world's most critical oil chokepoint
• BRICS Leaders' Summit 2026 to be hosted by India
• Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was Iran's Supreme Leader

🔑 Key Term: Freedom of navigation — principle (rooted in UNCLOS) that vessels enjoy unimpeded transit through international straits and waters.