Foreign ministers of Brics nations gathered in India’s capital on Thursday in discussions overshadowed by the Iran war and regional tension.
Built around the theme of innovation, co-operation, resilience and sustainability, this year’s two-day summit is expected to be dominated by the continuing conflict.It comes as Donald Trump is visiting China, the first trip to Beijing by a sitting US president in nearly a decade.
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Iran’s FM urged other leaders to work towards ending the war
Speaking at the Brics foreign ministers’ meeting, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi urged his counterparts to “unequivocally condemn” the US and Israel’s “illegal aggression” towards Tehran and asked them to “take concrete action to halt warmongering and bring an end to the impunity of those who violate the UN Charter”
The Iranian Foreign Minister said Brics countries should work together to end “the sense of impunity that the US believes it is entitled to … which has no place in today’s world”.
Mr Araghchi added there was no military solution to the war in Iran and that his country remains committed to the path of diplomacy. Tehran rejected the latest US proposal for a deal to end the war, while Tehran’s response was described as “garbage” by President Trump, leading to even greater uncertainty over the ceasefire.
Mr Araghchi’s remarks come as the US and Iran trade threats amid a ceasefire teetering on the brink of collapse, despite continuing backdoor diplomatic efforts to de-escalate and reach an agreement.
The war has had far-reaching global repercussions
Last year, BRICS leaders meeting in Brazil condemned Israel’s 12-day war on Iran, which began on June 13 and escalated after US airstrikes nine days later, calling the attacks a “violation of international law,” though they avoided directly naming the United States and Israel in their joint statement.
The latest conflict has deepened divisions among member states, with countries including the UAE, Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Indonesia feeling the impact of tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz crisis. The UAE has also faced direct consequences, reportedly intercepting more than 2,800 Iranian drones and missiles since February 28.
Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, chairing the New Delhi meeting, said in his opening remarks that the situation in West Asia deserves urgent attention. He warned that ongoing tensions, risks to maritime trade, and disruptions to energy infrastructure highlight the region’s fragility.
He stressed that safe and uninterrupted maritime routes through key waterways such as the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea are essential for global economic stability.
BRICS Grapples With Divisions as Middle East War Impacts Member States
Iran reportedly blockaded the Strait of Hormuz in response to US-Israeli strikes that began on February 28 and has since used control over the waterway as leverage in the conflict. The United States also imposed its own restrictions on the strategic passage on April 13 after Pakistan-mediated talks failed to produce an agreement, leaving the strait a central point of tension in indirect US-Iran negotiations.
Jaishankar also noted that the BRICS agenda includes discussions on humanitarian crises in Gaza and Yemen, as well as conflicts in Lebanon and Sudan. He emphasized that recent global conflicts underscore the urgent need for dialogue and diplomacy, adding that India remains committed to constructive engagement with all partners to advance these goals.
