Full Breakdown
Iran’s Parliament Speaker Cancels Attendance at 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum in Delhi
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Core Event – Cancellation and Delegation Participation
On October 24, 2026, the Iranian Embassy in India announced that Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, Speaker of Iran’s Islamic Consultative Assembly (Majles), would be unable to attend the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum scheduled for October 26-27 in New Delhi. The embassy cited “unforeseen circumstances” as the reason for his absence. Nevertheless, it confirmed that an Iranian parliamentary delegation would represent Tehran at the two-day meeting of speakers from BRICS member countries.
Background & Context – The Forum in New Delhi
The 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum is a bi-annual gathering of presiding officers and parliamentary leaders from the five BRICS nations—India, China, Russia, Brazil and South Africa—and a set of partner countries. The conference will be held in the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan, with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla chairing the sessions. The agenda emphasizes “people-centric development” and includes high-level discussions on parliamentary resilience, innovation in artificial intelligence and digital technologies, global governance reforms, and sustainability. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to attend, while no separate invitations have been extended to opposition leaders of India’s two houses.
Timeline of Key Dates
- September 12-13, 2022 (occurred): India previously hosted the BRICS Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi.
- October 22, 2026 (scheduled): Announcement that the forum will take place on October 26-27.
- October 24, 2026 (scheduled): Iranian Embassy announces Ghalibaf’s inability to attend.
- October 25, 2026 (scheduled): Meeting of secretaries of delegations to finalise the joint statement.
- October 26-27, 2026 (scheduled): Two-day parliamentary forum in New Delhi.
Official Statements & Responses
- It added that the delegation would continue dialogue and consultations with other BRICS parliaments to deepen bilateral and multilateral cooperation, particularly in parliamentary relations.
- He highlighted the four thematic sessions—Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability—and a special meeting of International Affairs Committee chairpersons.
Data & Statistics
- Forum duration: Two days (October 26-27).
- Participating BRICS members: Five (India, China, Russia, Brazil, South Africa).
- Partner countries expected: Ten, including Belarus, Malaysia and Uzbekistan; Saudi Arabia and Ethiopia are reported as non-participants.
- Sessions: Four high-level thematic sessions plus a special committee meeting.
- Delegations: Parliamentary delegations from all eleven BRICS member states and ten partner nations are slated to attend.
Why It Matters
Iran’s decision to send a delegation rather than its parliamentary speaker underscores the country’s intent to maintain active engagement within the BRICS framework despite the speaker’s personal absence. The forum provides a platform for Tehran to pursue diplomatic outreach, especially as Ghalibaf has been a key negotiator in regional conflicts involving Iran, Israel and the United States. Continued participation may facilitate parliamentary diplomacy that complements broader foreign-policy objectives, including cooperation on issues such as the Strait of Hormuz and multilateral security.
What’s Next
The secretaries of the delegations will meet on October 25 to finalise the joint statement, which is expected to be issued at the conclusion of the forum on October 27. The Iranian parliamentary delegation will engage in bilateral and multilateral discussions throughout the event, aiming to strengthen parliamentary ties and advance the agenda outlined by the host nation.