Iranian president says Tehran will not surrender as Modi calls for dialogue

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in New Delhi that Tehran will not surrender to the U.S. and described Iran as resisting pressure from the U.S. and Israel. He made the remarks during a meeting with Indian religious leaders as he visited India for the BRICS summit and a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Modi said India wants peace and urged that tensions in the Middle East be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy. He also raised concerns about the safety of seafarers and the impact of disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for oil and cargo. The BRICS members later issued a joint statement expressing concern about the escalation in the Middle East and calling for protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure. The article also noted that higher crude oil prices and shipping disruptions are adding pressure on energyimporting countries such as India.