Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian Arrives In India For BRICS Summit

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian arrived in New Delhi on Friday to attend the 18th BRICS Summit, with a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi scheduled during his visit. Pezeshkian’s visit comes as India hosts the summit under its 2026 BRICS chairship, with development, sustainability, innovation and cooperation among the key areas of focus.

Speaking before his departure from Tehran, Pezeshkian said BRICS was aimed at confronting unilateralism and expressed hope that member countries would move closer towards that objective. He also said economic issues had become increasingly complex and required new approaches to reduce what he described as “totalitarianism and unilateralism” in the international system.

According to Iran’s ISNA news agency, Pezeshkian said the summit would focus on themes including independence, solidarity, sustainability, resistance and innovation. Economic, financial, industrial and trade issues are also expected to feature prominently in discussions among leaders and representatives from BRICS member countries.

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Pezeshkian also highlighted the role of the BRICS New Development Bank, saying investment by member countries through the institution could help reduce dependence on the US dollar in international transactions. He argued that greater use of alternative financial mechanisms could help limit what he described as US influence through the dollar.

The Iranian President had earlier met Modi on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Bishkek. Ahead of his India visit, Pezeshkian said the two countries shared a long-standing relationship and had scope to expand areas of common ground. He also described the BRICS Summit as an opportunity to meet leaders and officials from countries including China, Russia, Brazil and India.

India is hosting the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12 and 13 under the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.” The bloc currently has 11 members — Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and the UAE — which together account for about 49.5 per cent of the global population, 40 per cent of global GDP and 26 per cent of global trade, according to background information on India’s 2026 BRICS chairship.

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