Iran urges India to activate BRICS over West Asia conflict

New Delhi: Iranian leaders have called on India to take a more active role in addressing the ongoing conflict involving the United States and Israel in West Asia, urging New Delhi to utilize its current chairmanship of the BRICS bloc to foster a "strong and constructive" intervention.

According to official Iranian government readouts, the matter was discussed in separate telephone conversations held late on Thursday, March 12. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian spoke with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi held talks with his Indian counterpart, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.

During these discussions, Tehran emphasized the need for India to help activate the expanded BRICS group in response to the escalating conflict, which has disrupted global energy supplies and shipping routes. The Wire reported, citing an Iranian government statement, that Iran specifically requested India to spearhead a "strong and constructive" intervention by BRICS.

Under India's current leadership, the expanded BRICS bloc has so far remained silent on the issue. The Iranian side's appeal comes as New Delhi faces a diplomatic challenge, balancing its relations with both Israel and Iran amid a domestic LPG crisis and the broader impact of the West Asia conflict on energy markets.

The Iranian leaders' outreach highlights the expectation that India, as BRICS chair, could play a significant role in addressing the crisis and mitigating its effects on global trade and energy security.