BRICS ministers fail to agree on joint statement amid Iran conflict divisions
Internal disagreements over the ongoing war in Iran and differing positions on Gaza prevented the BRICS alliance from issuing a joint statement following its two-day foreign ministers’ meeting in New Delhi.
The BRICS alliance, currently chaired by India, concluded its two-day foreign ministers’ meeting in New Delhi without issuing a joint statement. The failure to produce a unified document stemmed from significant internal divisions regarding the ongoing conflict involving Iran, which has intensified tensions between member states in the region. India, hosting the gathering, acknowledged on Friday that there were differing views among some members regarding the Middle East crisis.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi urged member states to condemn what he described as violations of international law by the United States and Israel. During a news conference, Araghchi accused an unnamed BRICS member of blocking specific sections of India’s draft statement. He stated that Iran’s military actions were directed solely at American military bases and installations located on UAE soil, denying that the UAE was a target.
The United Arab Emirates, a fellow BRICS member, rejected these claims. Minister of State Khalifa bin Shaheen Al Marar accused Araghchi of attempting to justify terrorist attacks against the UAE and other Gulf states. Al Marar cited approximately 3,000 Iranian attacks on UAE territory using ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones, noting that Iran had targeted its Gulf neighbour more than any other country involved in the conflict since it began on February 28.
Despite these disagreements, the ministers reached consensus on several key issues. They called for reforms to global governance institutions, including the United Nations and the Security Council, to better represent Global South countries. The bloc also agreed that Gaza is an inseparable part of any future independent Palestinian state, to be unified with the occupied West Bank under the Palestinian Authority, although one unnamed member expressed reservations regarding this section.
The group further called for an immediate ceasefire in Sudan, warning that the country’s civil war could become fertile ground for extremism and terrorism. Ministers also urged respect for the ceasefire in Lebanon and discussed the situation in Syria, calling for a peaceful political transition and the elimination of foreign terrorist fighters following the end of the civil war in December 2024. Additionally, the statement condemned the use of economic sanctions as a form of coercion.
