Iran presses diplomacy at BRICS
Tehran urged trust-building talks as BRICS members split on Middle East tensions
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi met his Indian counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on the sidelines of the BRICS foreign ministers’ gathering in New Delhi, stressing that Tehran seeks diplomacy but remains distrustful of Washington amid fragile ceasefire conditions.
India issued a chair's statement at the conclusion of the annual BRICS foreign ministers' meeting in New Delhi instead of a joint statement and said there were differing views among some members on the situation in the Middle East.
Speaking at a press conference in New Delhi, Araqchi said this was the second occasion talks with the US were undercut by strikes during negotiations, arguing contradictory US messaging has deepened mistrust and hindered progress. He reiterated Iran’s insistence there is no military solution, defended Tehran’s peaceful nuclear stance citing the 2015 agreement, and said discussions on enriched nuclear material have been deferred to later negotiation phases pending further consultation with Russia.
Araqchi urged serious, transparent talks and welcomed any country—particularly China—that could assist confidence‑building, noting Beijing’s past role in restoring Iran–Saudi ties and describing Sino‑Iranian relations as strategic. He said Iran aims to preserve the fragile truce to create space for diplomacy and hopes negotiations will eventually secure the Strait of Hormuz and normalize maritime traffic. India, as BRICS chair, issued a chair’s statement rather than a joint communique, reflecting divisions among members over the Persian Gulf conflict; Iran had called on New Delhi to use the platform to condemn U.S. and Israeli actions.
