Iran's Araghchi skipping BRICS meeting in Delhi; deputy to attend
What's the story
Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi is unlikely to attend the upcoming BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting in New Delhi, ThePrint reported. Instead, Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi is expected to lead the Iranian delegation, ANI reported. The meeting, which will be chaired by India, is scheduled for May 14-15. The event will provide a platform for substantive discussions on current international issues and strengthening global governance.
Member attendance
Foreign ministers from Brazil, Russia, South Africa to attend
The BRICS meeting will see participation from foreign ministers of Brazil, Russia, South Africa, Indonesia, Egypt and Ethiopia. China will be represented by one of its Deputy Foreign Ministers as Foreign Minister Wang Yi is also not attending due to President Donald Trump's visit to Beijing, ThePrint reported. Saudi Arabia's representation is expected from a senior official, while Reem Al-Hashimy is likely to represent the UAE.
Russian participation
Sergey Lavrov to hold talks with Jaishankar
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will also be attending the BRICS meeting. He will hold talks with his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar during his visit. The discussions are expected to cover bilateral relations and upcoming contacts at various levels. The BRICS grouping includes Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia Saudi Arabia South Africa and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Global impact
BRICS serves as a platform for consultation on global issues
BRICS serves as a platform for consultation on global political and economic governance issues. The 2026 chairship theme is "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability." This reflects a people-centric approach articulated by India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the 2025 summit in Rio de Janeiro. The meeting will also see high-level delegations from partner countries such as Belarus, Bolivia, and Cuba, among others.