Iran President’s Big BRICS Message Ahead of India Summit: ‘Confront Unilateralism’

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said confronting unilateralism was a key goal of BRICS as he departed Tehran for New Delhi to attend the summit and hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Speaking ahead of his visit, Pezeshkian said the grouping represented an opportunity for countries to pursue greater independence and cooperation in an increasingly complex global economic environment.

“The goal of BRICS is to confront unilateralism, and the slogan of the current summit is also within this framework. We hope to get closer to this goal day by day,” he said.

Pezeshkian added that economic challenges required new approaches to counter what he described as totalitarianism and unilateralism in the global order.

Why does Pezeshkian say BRICS must confront unilateralism?

The Iranian President said BRICS was increasingly important as countries sought greater economic and political independence.

According to Iran's ISNA news agency, Pezeshkian said the summit would focus on themes including independence, solidarity, sustainability, resilience and innovation, alongside discussions on economic, financial, industrial and trade cooperation.

He said greater coordination among BRICS members could help countries develop new mechanisms for cooperation and reduce dependence on existing global economic structures.

What did Pezeshkian say about reducing dependence on the dollar?

Pezeshkian pointed to the role of BRICS financial institutions and increased investment among member countries as part of efforts to strengthen economic cooperation.

He said greater financial interaction could allow member countries to expand trade and investment without relying heavily on the US dollar.

“A special bank has been formed within the BRICS framework, and we are going to see investment from countries so that interactions between countries and members can be carried out without dependence on the dollar,” he said.

Pezeshkian added that such mechanisms could help reduce the dominance of the dollar in international economic interactions.

What will Pezeshkian discuss during his India visit?

The Iranian President is scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Modi during his visit to New Delhi.

Pezeshkian said the BRICS Summit would provide an opportunity to meet leaders and officials from countries including India, China, Russia and Brazil.

He also highlighted the long-standing relationship between India and Iran, saying the two countries could further expand areas of cooperation based on their shared interests.

What has Modi said about India-Iran ties?

Pezeshkian and Prime Minister Modi had earlier met on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Bishkek.

During that meeting, Modi reiterated India’s support for efforts aimed at promoting long-term peace and stability in the region.

The Prime Minister also expressed India’s readiness to work closely with Iran through multilateral platforms, including BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.

Modi had underlined New Delhi’s intention to expand and diversify bilateral trade channels with Iran while strengthening the historic relationship between the two countries across multiple areas.

Pezeshkian’s visit comes as leaders gather in New Delhi for the BRICS Summit, where economic cooperation, financial integration, trade and broader questions surrounding the global order are expected to feature prominently.

(With inputs from ANI)