NSA Ajit Doval holds talks with Iran's top security official amid Middle East tensions

Key Points:

• National Security Adviser Ajit Doval met with Iran’s deputy secretary for defence affairs, Ghadir Nezamipour, in New Delhi to discuss Middle East security, Brics cooperation, and India-Iran bilateral relations, marking the first visit by a senior Iranian official post-Iran-US peace agreement.
• The 16th Brics National Security Advisers’ Meeting, chaired by India, convened top security officials from member countries to address global and regional security challenges, including Middle East developments, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, terrorism, and emerging non-traditional threats.
• Discussions at the Brics security conclave focus on non-traditional security challenges, the impact of new technologies on security, and outcomes from Brics working groups on counter-terrorism and ICT security.
• India is expected to raise concerns about terrorism, particularly cross-border terror activities in Jammu and Kashmir linked to Pakistan-based groups, as well as security issues involving Pakistan and Afghanistan.
• Brics has expanded to 11 member countries, including recent additions like Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, UAE, and Indonesia, and now addresses political, economic, and cultural cooperation; India is chairing the grouping in 2026 under the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.”