Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called on countries to condemn what he described as violations of international law by and including their “illegal attack on Iran.”
His remarks, during a two-day meeting in New Delhi, come as its president (one of the key members of the group of countries), Xi Jinping, welcomes Donald Trump in Beijing, and at the same time show that there are divisions within the enlarged BRICS bloc, as the US-Israeli war against Iran casts a heavy shadow over the work of the foreign ministers’ meeting. Regional rivals such as Iran and the United Arab Emirates have now joined the group, making it difficult to maintain a common stance on the Middle East conflict.
What Aragchi said at the BRICS Foreign Ministers Summit
Abbas Araghchi criticized Washington, calling the war “illegal expansionism and warmongering,” while saying Iran remains open to diplomacy while ready to defend itself “with all available means.”
“Iran therefore calls on the BRICS member states and all responsible members of the international community to unequivocally condemn the violations of international law by the United States and Israel,” it said.
Iran’s stance may make it difficult for the BRICS — which operate by consensus — to agree on a joint communique, given the presence of the United Arab Emirates, which is on the opposing side. Iran has launched numerous attacks against the UAE and other neighboring countries.
The group, which originally consisted of Brazil, Russia, India and China, was expanded in 2011 with the addition of South Africa, with Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates joining more recently.
Enlargement has strengthened the organization’s international weight, but at the same time it has also increased internal divergences on geopolitical issues. India holds the BRICS presidency for 2026.
“Thorn” in the relations of the BRICS countries and the situation in the Straits
The virtual closure of the Straits of Hormuz — a critical sea artery through which about a fifth of the world’s oil traffic passes — has caused one of the biggest disruptions to energy supplies in modern history.
Restrictions on tanker traffic have sent crude prices soaring, fueling fears of a resurgence of inflation, tighter financial conditions and a possible global economic slowdown, particularly for economies dependent on energy imports such as India.
Meanwhile, India’s foreign ministry said on Thursday that an Indian-flagged ship was attacked off the coast of Oman on Wednesday and that all crew members were safe.
“This attack is unacceptable and we condemn the fact that merchant ships and civilian seafarers continue to be targeted,” he said.
In his opening remarks, India’s foreign minister, Subramaniam Jaishankar, took a cautious stance, avoiding direct criticism and emphasizing the importance of stability. He stressed that unimpeded navigation through international sea lanes, including the Straits of Hormuz and the Red Sea, is vital to global economic prosperity.
Bell from the Indian Foreign Minister on the situation in the Middle East
“The conflict in West Asia requires special attention,” Jaishankar said, without naming specific countries.
At the same time, he expressed concern over the growing use of unilateral sanctions, an issue that has been a perennial point of friction between the BRICS member states.
“There is increasing recourse to unilateral coercive measures and sanctions that are inconsistent with international law and the United Nations Charter,” he said. “Such measures disproportionately affect developing countries. These unwarranted practices cannot replace dialogue, nor can pressure replace diplomacy.”
Jaishankar added that emerging economies expect the BRICS to play “a constructive and stabilizing role” in a period of growing geopolitical fragmentation and economic uncertainty.
