According to an ANI report citing sources, Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi is expected to visit New Delhi to attend the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ meeting scheduled for 14-15. May.
The expected visit comes amid growing geopolitical developments and highlights the strengthening ties between India and Iran within the enlarged BRICS grouping.
This comes as US President Donald Trump swiftly rejected Iran’s response to a US peace proposal, raising fears that the 10-week conflict could continue and further disrupt shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
The US recently presented a proposal aimed at resuming negotiations.
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However, Iran responded on Sunday with a statement stressing the need to end the conflict on all fronts, particularly in Lebanon, where US-backed Israel is engaged in a battle against the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group.
Earlier on April 29, Araghchi called his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar and discussed various aspects of the crisis in West Asia.
The phone conversation came two days after Araghchi held extensive discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.
The Iranian embassy in Delhi said the two sides “discussed and exchanged views on the latest developments regarding the ceasefire, bilateral relations as well as regional and international issues”.
It is learned that the situation arising from the US blockade of Iranian ports and also Iran’s restrictions on the movement of ships through the Strait of Hormuz figured in the conversation, PTI reported.
India-Iran relations
Defining India-Iran relations, the Ministry of External Affairs said: “India and Iran share a millennia-long history of interaction. The current relationship draws on the strength of these historical and civilizational ties and continues to grow further, growing further through high-level exchanges, trade and connectivity cooperation, cultural and strong people-to-people ties.”
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India and Iran were important trading partners. India has been among Iran’s top five trading partners in recent years. India’s major exports to Iran include rice, tea, sugar, pharmaceuticals, etc., while India’s major imports from Iran consist of dry fruits, fresh fruits, etc.
BRICS
BRICS is a grouping of eleven major emerging economies and developing countries — Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates. The bloc acts as an important forum for dialogue and cooperation on major global and regional issues, including political and economic governance.
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India officially assumed the BRICS chairmanship on January 1 this year, taking over from Brazil. This is India’s fourth time chairing the influential bloc, having previously hosted the summits in 2012, 2016 and 2021.
India, which will chair BRICS in 2026, has adopted the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”. The theme reflects the people-centric and humanity-centric vision highlighted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the 17th BRICS summit held in Rio de Janeiro in 2025.
