The BRICS leaders' summit, attended by Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates, and the Islamic Republic of Iran, was hosted by India and concluded with the issuance of a final declaration. The summit charted the paths ahead for the grouping at a time when developments during its proceedings, particularly the themes of the meetings and speeches of Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, pointed to the emergence of capacities that, should member states converge, could transform BRICS from an economic framework into an effective player in the emerging global order.

Iran and India: Diplomacy in Pursuit of National Interests

At first glance, the Iranian president's visit to India represents a continuation of the policy of convergence with regional countries and emerging powers, a policy that has been among the priorities of the foreign policy apparatus of the Islamic Republic of Iran in recent years. Iran's capabilities and its position in regional and global equations are such that even Indian leaders, despite their closer orientation toward the West, have emphasized the need to expand relations with Tehran. The symbolic presentation of a “shawl of affection” to the Iranian president was also a sign of special respect and a determination to deepen relations.

Tehran's approach of engagement with New Delhi also demonstrates that the Islamic Republic of Iran pursues its foreign relations within the framework of national interests and without becoming confined by narrow alignments. Alongside its extensive relations with Russia, China, and Pakistan, Iran also maintains constructive engagement with India, a country that itself has differences with some of these powers.

More importantly, although India has maintained extensive relations with the US and the Israeli regime in recent years, developments following the Ramadan War, and particularly Iran's management of the Strait of Hormuz, have presented New Delhi with new realities. India has come to recognize that without engagement with Tehran, playing an effective role and even ensuring a stable supply of energy from West Asia would face serious limitations. This reality represents an acknowledgment by one of the world's major emerging powers of Iran's position and strength and can itself be an important achievement in creating synergy between the field and diplomacy in pursuit of national interests.

Neighborly Diplomacy Even at the Height of Confrontation

One of the notable aspects of the president's visit to India was his meeting with the Crown Prince of the United Arab Emirates, a meeting whose significance went beyond that of an ordinary political encounter. At various times, the UAE has been aligned with the anti-Iran policies of the US and the Israeli regime and has even become a hub for certain actions against Iran, particularly in the economic sphere. Nevertheless, Tehran has not closed the path of dialogue with its neighbors, even at the height of confrontation.

This approach demonstrates that the Islamic Republic of Iran considers regional security to depend on convergence among neighboring countries. Under this policy, a firm, swift, and crushing response to aggressors goes hand in hand with continued diplomacy and dialogue. Such a combination can be seen as a sign of political maturity, military strength, and resilience in the face of pressure and threats, because genuine power is not confined solely to the ability to respond militarily but is also manifested in the ability to manage the field and diplomacy simultaneously.

Iran: A Strategic Capacity in the Face of Sanctions

One of the important messages of the BRICS summit was the continuation of a trend that had previously been evident at the Shanghai summit: the emphasis by various countries on drawing on Iran's capacities to counter Western economic terrorism and achieve shared economic objectives. The clear message of this trend is that the project to isolate Iran is at odds with the realities of global relations.

The Iranian president also emphasized the country's extensive capabilities in his remarks and announced the readiness of the Islamic Republic of Iran to serve as a strategic partner for BRICS in energy, food, and transportation supply chains. Iran's capabilities in artificial intelligence and advanced global knowledge, the use of national currencies in exchanges, and strengthening the BRICS common bank were also among the proposals put forward.

Relying on indigenous capabilities that were demonstrated during the Ramadan War, Iran can also play an effective role in establishing indigenous mechanisms for security and the economy. Within this framework, the economic and political support of BRICS members for Iran could lead to the establishment of a practical mechanism to counter unilateral US pressure.

Iran's management of the Strait of Hormuz is also one of the decisive components of this equation, a reality that will not allow regional conditions to return to the past. From Tehran's perspective, this management constitutes both legitimate defense and a contribution to safeguarding global energy security against US efforts to dominate the world's strategic waterways and resources.

BRICS: From a Joint Declaration to a Global Player

The final declaration of the BRICS summit may be the most important document for assessing the grouping's potential. Unlike many Western gatherings, where differences prevent even the issuance of a joint text, the declaration was issued by consensus among the members and addressed a broad range of important global issues.

Condemnation of attacks on peaceful nuclear facilities and civilian infrastructure; emphasis on resolving tensions in West Asia through restraint and respect for the sovereignty of countries; opposition to unilateral sanctions and coercive measures; support for Iran's accession to the World Trade Organization; strengthening trade in national currencies and independence from the Western financial system; reform of global governance and international financial institutions; and support for Palestine were among the main themes of the declaration.

Support for Lebanon's sovereignty, condemnation of the Israeli regime's aggression, protection of countries' national sovereignty and territorial integrity, emphasis on a Middle East free of nuclear weapons, combating terrorism without double standards, strengthening multilateralism and the multipolarization of the global order, recognition of the role of the Global South, and cooperation in the fields of energy and strategic minerals were among the other issues emphasized.

Taken together, these elements show that BRICS is no longer merely an annual gathering but can evolve into an alliance with broad global objectives, one that, if it moves beyond the stage of declarations toward practical mechanisms, will be capable of playing a role in shaping the emerging global order. At a time when Western-Zionist unilateralism has placed global security under threat, strengthening pragmatic approaches is an undeniable necessity. The Islamic Republic of Iran has also declared its readiness to cooperate in efforts aimed at shaping a more just and multipolar order.