Iran FM Araghchi likely in India for BRICS talks amid West Asia tensions
Sources close to the matter said that uncertainty about Iran’s participation continues due to the unstable security environment, but Iran has conveyed to India that the visit remains “on the foreign minister’s agenda” for now.
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But Araghchi’s existence may depend on developments in the region, particularly whether the fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran will continue. Any new military escalation could dramatically alter Tehran’s diplomatic relations.
The Iranian leadership is currently working on a 14-point US peace proposal that reportedly calls for Iran to halt uranium enrichment for at least 12 years in exchange for the gradual lifting of American sanctions.
The BRICS meeting in India is expected to focus mainly on the West Asian crisis, but divisions within the group continue to complicate efforts to come up with a common statement on the conflict.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has already confirmed his participation. However, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is likely to skip the meeting as he prioritizes preparations for the expected Donald Trump-Xi Jinping summit, the timing of which is understood to coincide with the BRICS meeting.Also Read: “I will only accept a fair and comprehensive agreement,” Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi tells Chinese counterpart in Beijing
It was learned that Iran, which joined BRICS in 2024 along with Egypt, Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, is pushing for a stronger collective position within the bloc against US-Israeli military actions in the region.
Both Araghchi and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian called on India to help build consensus within the BRICS for a joint declaration on the conflict.
But India has argued that deep differences between member states, particularly between Iran and the UAE, have so far prevented the group from reaching a consensus document.
The same divisions emerged at a meeting of BRICS special envoys last month, which resulted in only the President’s statement rather than a joint declaration after efforts to bridge the gap between the two sides failed, government sources said at the time.
For New Delhi, the balancing act remains delicate.
Despite maintaining close relations with Tehran, relations with the UAE remain a strategic priority. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to travel to Abu Dhabi on May 15 for a brief meeting with UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on his way to Europe.
India has so far opted for a diplomatic approach to the crisis and has refrained from weighing participation in any military coalition aimed at securing the strategic waterway.
