The confirmation came during an interview with India
Today Global on Tuesday, where Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaiel Baghaei detailed
the high-level visit. He underscored the robust multilateral partnership shared
by the two countries, noting that Iran and India are both members of BRICS and
the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and have a “good level of cooperation and
coordination” in both organisations.
The spokesperson further emphasised the strategic
weight of the upcoming deliberations in the Indian capital. Baghaei added that the “simultaneous meeting is of importance to Iran” and
stated that Tehran “looks forward to bilateral meetings with other ministers
participating in this event,” specifically highlighting the interaction with the
“foreign minister of India as a friendly country.” New Delhi is poised to become
a focal point of international relations as it hosts the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on
May 14 and 15. This significant gathering serves as a
cornerstone of India’s 2026 chairship, highlighting its leadership within the
newly enlarged multilateral alliance.
This diplomatic
convergence comes at a critical juncture. In the wake of the US-Iran
hostilities that broke out on 18 February, Seyed Abbas Araghchi has maintained
frequent contact with External
Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. The two leaders have engaged in
at least four high-level discussions regarding the intensifying turmoil in West
Asia and its wider geopolitical consequences.
In these exchanges, Araghchi provided Jaishankar with
updates on the shifting landscape following events Tehran characterised as US
and Israeli strikes. He cautioned that such actions pose a threat to both
regional and global peace, using these dialogues to advocate for enhanced collaboration
between BRICS members to safeguard international order. During these conversations, Araghchi also
reaffirmed Tehran’s resolve to exercise its “legitimate right of self-defence.”
The upcoming summit in New Delhi offers a timely platform to build on this
established rapport, following the Foreign Minister’s previous mission to India
in May 2025.
That two-day visit
served as his inaugural trip to the nation after taking office in August 2024.
During that stay, he served as co-chair for the 20th India-Iran Joint
Commission Meeting, which laid much of the groundwork for the current strategic
cooperation. The 7-8 May sessions were
organised to honour the 75th anniversary of the India-Iran Friendship Treaty.
The agenda focused on a comprehensive review of bilateral ties while seeking
new avenues to strengthen political, strategic, and economic ties. Along with
his discussions with Jaishankar, Araghchi also called on President Droupadi
Murmu during that visit, cementing a foundation that the two nations now look
to expand upon during the BRICS gathering.