Iranian President Pezeshkian Arrives in New Delhi for 18th BRICS Summit

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian left Tehran for New Delhi on Friday to participate in the 18th BRICS summit, according to Mehr News Agency (MNA). Before his departure, Pezeshkian said the bloc has the capacity to counter unilateralism and to expand economic, trade, industrial and scientific cooperation among its members.

During the visit, the president is scheduled to attend and address the main BRICS leaders' meeting, the BRICS economic forum, and a closed session of BRICS leaders focused on inclusive global governance and strengthening multilateralism. He will also hold high-profile meetings with the Prime Minister of India, the Prime Minister of Malaysia, the President of South Africa, and other leaders and officials attending the summit.

Pezeshkian described the summit as an important opportunity to expand cooperation among member states. He noted that BRICS currently has 21 members, comprising 11 full members and 10 new members known as "BRICS Plus."

The Iranian president's participation in the summit comes amid ongoing global discussions on multilateralism and economic cooperation. The BRICS group, originally comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, has expanded in recent years to include additional members, reflecting a broader push for alternative platforms of international engagement.

According to Mehr News Agency, Pezeshkian's agenda in New Delhi includes both multilateral sessions and bilateral meetings aimed at strengthening Iran's ties with key regional and global players. The report by MNA added that the president views the summit as a significant platform for advancing cooperation on economic, trade, industrial and scientific fronts.