Iran presses BRICS to condemn US and Israeli military campaign

Thursday 14 May 2026 - 13:59

By: Dakir Madiha

Iran presses BRICS to condemn US and Israeli military campaign

Foreign ministers from the BRICS nations opened a two day summit in New Delhi on Thursday under the shadow of the conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel. The meeting exposed growing divisions inside the expanded BRICS bloc as member states struggled to align their positions on the war that began on February 28.

Hosted at Bharat Mandapam and chaired by Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar, the gathering brought together diplomats from the group’s 11 member states, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, both of which hold different strategic positions from Tehran in the regional conflict.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi delivered one of the summit’s strongest statements, accusing Washington and Tel Aviv of carrying out an “illegal and brutal aggression” against Iran. He urged BRICS members to explicitly condemn what he described as violations of international law committed by the United States and Israel. Araghchi framed Iran’s position as part of a broader struggle for the Global South, saying Tehran’s resistance represented a defense of the emerging international order supported by developing nations.

India adopted a more cautious approach during the opening session. Jaishankar stressed the importance of maintaining free maritime navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea, warning that disruptions threaten global economic stability. He also criticized the growing use of unilateral sanctions and coercive economic measures. Since the start of the conflict, oil markets have reacted sharply to tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, with Brent crude prices rising above $100 per barrel after trading below $70 before the war.

The summit highlighted deep fractures within the enlarged BRICS alliance. Brazil, Russia and China have publicly criticized the American and Israeli strikes, while India has avoided direct condemnation of Washington. Diplomatic tensions between Iran and the United Arab Emirates reportedly complicated negotiations over a possible joint statement at the end of the summit.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi did not attend the meeting, as Beijing focused on high level talks between Xi Jinping and Donald Trump in Beijing. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was present at the summit.

Although the meeting was initially expected to prioritize trade in local currencies and broader economic coordination, the conflict involving Iran dominated discussions. Analysts said the ability of BRICS members to produce a unified declaration on the crisis will be closely watched when the summit concludes on Friday.