Full Breakdown
BRICS Foreign Ministers Meet in New Delhi Amid Iran Conflict
5/14/2026, 8:35:52 AM
Core Event: Meeting Under Iran War
On 14-15 May 2026, New Delhi hosted the BRICS foreign ministers’ summit, the first meeting under India’s 2026 chairmanship. Delegates from Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates gathered while the United States and Israel continue operations.
Timeline & Venue
The plenary opened at 10:00 GMT Thursday in Bharat Mandapam, followed by a video call with PM Modi at 13:00 GMT; Friday saw a second plenary, bilateral talks and a dinner hosted by Minister Jaishankar.
Energy, Economic & Strategic Stakes
The war has blocked the Strait of Hormuz, which handled about 20 % of oil and LNG. Iran now allows only IRGC-cleared vessels, while the United States enforces a naval blockade. India and China, dependent on Gulf supplies, have launched emergency price-stabilisation measures; Brazil, Egypt and South Africa report rising energy costs.
Official Statements
India’s foreign ministry called the meeting a platform for multilateral cooperation and governance reform, expressing optimism about a joint declaration. Iran’s deputy foreign minister Kazem Gharibabadi urged BRICS to become a forum for equal cooperation and defence of nations’ rights. Russian officials reaffirmed Moscow’s coordinated stance; China’s ambassador stressed neutrality and continued ties with both Iran and Gulf states.
Criticism
Analysts cite the April deputy-ministerial session’s failure to issue a joint statement as evidence of BRICS’ fragility when members are directly involved in conflict. The lack of a confirmed UAE delegation and the pending Saudi Arabia accession are procedural hurdles. India’s outreach to Israel is also seen as straining bloc cohesion.
Conflicting Reports
Sources differ on UAE representation; Chinese outlets report Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s absence, while some describe the ambassador’s role as ceremonial. Likewise, some reports list Saudi Arabia as a full BRICS member, whereas others note its accession remains pending.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Glad that the foreign ministers from all the BRICS countries, except China who is otherwise tied up, are coming. This is a good sign on efforts to build a BRICS coalition around a matter of interest to emerging economies and the global south,” — Manjeev Singh Puri, Former Indian Diplomat
- “The Iran war is likely to cast a shadow over both the BRICS summit and the Trump-Xi meeting,” — Rafael Loss, Policy Fellow, European Council on Foreign Relations
- “BRICS will play its historical role more fully when it becomes a platform for equal cooperation, mutual respect, independence in decision-making, and the defense of nations’ rights against monopoly, sanctions and coercive policies,” — Kazem Gharibabadi, Deputy Foreign Minister, Iran
- “The meeting of the BRICS Foreign Ministers is scheduled for the 14th and 15th May, and we are presiding over it,” — Randhir Jaiswal, MEA Spokesperson, India
What’s Next
BRICS aims to issue a joint declaration at the September summit in New Delhi.
