India in talks with BRICS members to reach consensus on West Asia crisis
The development comes amid growing calls for a stronger multilateral response to the crisis, with Iran also urging BRICS to play a constructive role in addressing the situation
India has begun consultations with fellow members of BRICS to evolve a consensus position on the escalating conflict in West Asia, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Friday.
Briefing the media, MEA Additional Secretary Randhir Jaiswal said New Delhi was in touch with other members of the grouping so that “a consensus position can evolve on this issue”.
The development comes amid growing calls for a stronger multilateral response to the crisis, with Iran also urging BRICS to play a constructive role in addressing the situation.
India, which currently holds the presidency of the bloc, has expressed deep concern over the ongoing hostilities and reiterated that the conflict should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy.
Jaiswal said Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently spoke with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to discuss the evolving situation. During the conversation, the Prime Minister stressed the importance of ensuring the safety and welfare of Indian citizens in the region and safeguarding energy and trade transit routes.
External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar also held a conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, during which the two sides discussed bilateral issues as well as matters related to BRICS.
The latest exchange marks the fourth conversation between the two ministers since the hostilities erupted between Iran and US-Israel alliance on February 28, reflecting sustained diplomatic engagement between New Delhi and Tehran amid growing regional tensions.
According to Tehran, Araghchi briefed the Indian minister on the latest developments following what Iran described as acts of aggression and atrocities by the US and Israel, and their implications for regional and global stability and security. He reiterated Iran’s firm resolve to exercise its legitimate right to self-defence.
The Iranian Foreign Minister also stressed the need for regional and international organisations to condemn the military action against Iran.
Significantly, the Iranian Foreign Minister highlighted the importance of BRICS as a platform for strengthening multilateral cooperation among emerging powers. At a time when global tensions are intensifying, he said the grouping should play a constructive role in safeguarding regional and international stability.
The reference to BRICS is being seen as part of Tehran’s attempt to rally support within non-Western multilateral forums and push for a broader diplomatic response to the conflict.
Jaishankar, for his part, conveyed India’s readiness to expand bilateral and multilateral cooperation within regional and international forums and emphasised the importance of finding pathways to ensure sustainable stability and security in the region.
The MEA official said India continues to closely monitor the safety of its nationals in the region. Since February 28, about 1.5 lakh Indian citizens have returned home from various countries in West Asia.
In addition, 1,170 Indian nationals crossed from Iran into Armenia in recent days, many of whom subsequently returned to India on commercial flights.
The ministry’s control room, set up on March 4 to assist Indian citizens, has so far received around 900 phone calls and 200 emails, with the number of requests now gradually declining, officials said.
