India Has Shown Impartiality As BRICS Chair, Says Iranian Minister

Pearl Doshi May 14, 2026 290 Views

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi praised India’s role as BRICS chair, saying New Delhi has acted impartially while facilitating discussions on the West Asia crisis and seeking a unified BRICS declaration; Tehran welcomed India’s peace initiative but noted one member was blocking consensus on condemning specific actions.

Ahead of the BRICS foreign ministers’ meeting hosted by India, Iran’s Kazem Gharibabadi commended India for maintaining neutrality and impartiality as chair, urging a collective BRICS declaration to avoid sending a message of division. Tehran signalled support for India’s peace‑making role while pointing to hurdles from a member state opposing a unified stance.

Iranian Minister’s Statement

Kazem Gharibabadi told news agency ANI that India “has shown impartiality as Chair of BRICS,” and that Iran favours a joint BRICS declaration to demonstrate unity amid escalating tensions in West Asia. He stressed that BRICS should avoid appearing divided in the face of regional conflict.

Consensus Challenges And Expectations

Diplomatic sources indicate discussions at the BRICS foreign ministers’ meeting are being tested by differing member positions on the Gulf conflict; India, as chair, has sought to broker consensus while balancing calls for de‑escalation and respect for sovereignty from participating states. One member’s push to single out Iran was cited as an obstacle to a unanimous declaration.

Chairmanship And Peace Initiative

India has positioned itself as a neutral convener, proposing inclusive dialogue and inviting input from all members to craft a collective statement. Tehran welcomed any Indian initiative aimed at peace in West Asia and said it would support efforts that do not politicise the grouping.

Why This Matters

A unified BRICS declaration would signal the bloc’s cohesion on a major geopolitical crisis, potentially influencing global diplomatic currents and regional de‑escalation efforts; failure to agree could underscore divisions among emerging powers at a sensitive juncture.

BRICS Meeting Highlights