Jaishankar meets Russian, Iranian foreign ministers on UNGA sidelines

Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met with his Russian and Iranian counterparts on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, discussing bilateral ties, BRICS cooperation, and the Gulf conflict, days after the US signed a new sanctions law targeting oil purchases from Moscow and Tehran. Jaishankar and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reviewed bilateral cooperation and the BRICS agenda, with Moscow's readout noting discussions on the Ukraine crisis and Middle East, reaffirming their "special and privileged strategic partnership." Jaishankar also spoke with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi about the latest Gulf conflict developments. The meetings come after President Trump signed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, which authorizes sanctions and tariffs on trading partners like India. India reiterated its commitment to energy security for its 1.4 billion people through diversified sourcing, while Jaishankar also co-chaired an India-GCC ministerial meeting and an event on AI in maritime security.