Kashmir Impulse Desk

New Delhi, May 13 

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in India on Wednesday for a three-day visit centred on regional security and energy concerns arising from the ongoing US-Israel conflict with Iran.

Araghchi is visiting New Delhi primarily to attend a two-day meeting of foreign ministers from the BRICS nations beginning on Thursday.

During the visit, Araghchi is expected to hold bilateral talks with Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, with discussions likely to focus on the escalating crisis in West Asia and maritime security around the Strait of Hormuz.

Indian officials are expected to seek assurances regarding the safe passage of merchant vessels through the strategic waterway, which handles a significant share of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments, people familiar with the matter said.

“A very warm welcome to Foreign Minister of Iran, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, on his arrival in New Delhi for the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting,” Indian foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a post on X.

Araghchi and other BRICS foreign ministers are also scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday.

The conflict in West Asia and its impact on global energy markets are expected to dominate discussions during the BRICS meeting, hosted by India ahead of the grouping’s annual summit later this year.

Diplomatic differences among BRICS members over the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran have complicated efforts to forge a common position on the crisis.

Last month, a meeting of BRICS deputy foreign ministers and special envoys failed to issue a joint statement on the conflict due to disagreements between Iran and the United Arab Emirates, according to officials familiar with the talks.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said Tehran viewed its participation in BRICS as part of a broader strategy to strengthen multilateral cooperation and reduce dependence on what he called discriminatory global mechanisms.

“The BRICS foreign ministers’ meeting in New Delhi can be an important opportunity for dialogue on the future of Global South cooperation,” Gharibabadi said in a statement posted on X.

He also criticised U.S. sanctions policies and called for stronger economic coordination among developing countries.

Iran has urged India, the current BRICS chair, to play an “independent role” in efforts to halt hostilities involving the United States and Israel.

Global oil prices have risen sharply in recent weeks amid fears of disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

Originally formed by Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, BRICS expanded in 2024 to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the UAE, with Indonesia joining the grouping in 2025.