Abbas Araghchi India visit: BRICS meeting and talks on West Asia and the Strait of Hormuz

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi is on a three-day official visit to India for the BRICS foreign ministers meeting. He is expected to hold bilateral talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on the West Asia crisis, including the Strait of Hormuz and safe passage for merchant vessels, with attention to energy supply risks.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi began a three-day official visit to India on Wednesday. The trip was the first senior outreach from Tehran since the US-Israel war with Iran began over two months ago. Araghchi was in New Delhi for the BRICS foreign ministers meeting. The West Asia crisis was set to dominate talks.

Araghchi was due to hold bilateral discussions with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. The agenda was expected to cover the sharp rise in tensions across West Asia. The Strait of Hormuz was likely to be a central issue. Indian officials were expected to seek safe passage for remaining merchant vessels.

BRICS foreign ministers meeting and West Asia crisis

Araghchi was visiting mainly to attend the two-day BRICS foreign ministers meeting starting Thursday. Araghchi and other BRICS foreign ministers were also scheduled to call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday. The meeting was expected to focus on West Asia and the global energy supply chain. India was hosting as BRICS chair.

External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal welcomed Araghchi on social media. "A very warm welcome to Foreign Minister of Iran, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, on his arrival in New Delhi for the BRICS Foreign Ministers Meeting,\" Randhir Jaiswal said on X. The BRICS ministerial meeting was being held ahead of the annual summit in September.

BRICS foreign ministers meeting and consensus hurdles

Diplomats were watching whether BRICS could agree on a joint statement on the conflict. India’s earlier effort to build a common line stalled last month. Disagreement surfaced at a meeting of deputy foreign ministers and special envoys. Differences were linked to the US-Israel war on Iran. The UAE and Iran were cited as key points of friction.

No consensus statement emerged largely because of differences between the UAE and Iran. The two neighbours had sparred in recent weeks. The dispute followed Iran’s alleged attacks on energy infrastructure in the UAE. The latest ministerial talks in New Delhi were expected to test if positions had shifted. Officials said outcomes remained uncertain.

BRICS foreign ministers meeting and Iran’s messaging

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi, in New Delhi for the BRICS meeting, set out Tehran’s position. \"The active presence of the Islamic Republic of Iran in mechanisms such as BRICS represents a strategic choice to strengthen genuine multilateralism, expand equitable cooperation, and participate in shaping a more just order in international relations,\" Gharibabadi said on X.

Gharibabadi also listed areas where Iran wanted discussion at the New Delhi meeting. \"The BRICS foreign ministers meeting in New Delhi can be an important opportunity for dialogue on the future of Global South cooperation, reforming international economic governance, developing independent trade, strengthening financial and banking ties, and reducing countries dependence on discriminatory and unilateral mechanisms,\" he said.

Gharibabadi said Iran could contribute to several BRICS priorities. The areas included balanced development, economic security, regional connectivity, and raising independent voices. Gharibabadi pointed to Iran’s geopolitical, energy, transit, scientific, and human capacities. Gharibabadi also linked the agenda to opposition against unilateral actions. \"In this path, opposition to Americas unilateral coercive measures and their illegal and anti-development effects is an inseparable part of defending economic justice and the rights of nations to development,\" he said.

BRICS foreign ministers meeting and Strait of Hormuz pressures

After the conflict intensified, Iran urged India to use its role as BRICS chair. Tehran asked India to help halt the US-Israel hostilities against Iran. Energy markets were also affected by developments near the Strait of Hormuz. Oil and gas prices surged after Iran virtually blocked the route. The strait carries about 20 per cent of global oil and LNG.

BRICS started with Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. The grouping expanded in 2024 to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the UAE. Indonesia joined in 2025. BRICS now includes 11 major emerging economies. It represents about 49.5 per cent of the world population, about 40 per cent of global GDP, and about 26 per cent of global trade.

The BRICS foreign ministers last met on the margins of UNGA 80 in September 2025. India was hosting the current conclave before the September summit. Araghchi’s visit brought focus back to West Asia’s wider spillover risks. Discussions in New Delhi were expected to weigh energy security concerns. The diplomatic schedule included talks with S Jaishankar and a call on Narendra Modi.

With inputs from PTI