BRICS powers welcome Iran's membership, say ready to 'deepen' ties

President Xi Jinping says China is willing to boost cooperation with Iran on BRICS and other platforms, hours after the group of emerging economies formally invited the Islamic Republic to become a full member.

At the beginning of a meeting with Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi on the sidelines of the 15th BRICS leaders' summit in the South African city of Johannesburg on Thursday, Xi congratulated Iran on becoming a member of the group.

"China is ready to consolidate friendship and deepen mutual trust with the Iranian side and to continue to support each other on issues of mutual core interests," state broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV) quoted the Chinese president as saying.

China's Xinhua news agency also said Xi told his Iranian counterpart that China stands ready to strengthen cooperation with Iran so as to push for healthy and robust development of multilateralism.

Raeisi, for his part, said Iran is ready to give a boost to its bilateral cooperation with China and help enhance multilateralism, stressing that Iran's membership in BRICS would also strengthen the core approaches of the group, including opposition to the US unilateralism.  

Referring to the agreements already signed between Tehran and Beijing, the Iranian president stressed the need for the enforcement of a 25-year comprehensive deal between the two countries.  

'Wonderful meeting' with PM Modi 

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also held wide-ranging talks with President Raeisi, during which they reviewed bilateral ties including in areas of trade and investment, energy, connectivity, counter-terrorism, and Afghanistan.

"Had a wonderful meeting with President Ebrahim Raeisi. I am glad that Iran will be joining BRICS. Discussed ways to deepen trade and cultural cooperation between India and Iran," Modi said in a post on platform X.

The prime minister's office said that Modi and Raeisi held wide-ranging talks during which they discussed ways to boost ties in sectors like energy, connectivity, and trade.

They had spoken over the phone on Friday and discussed strengthening of bilateral and regional cooperation, including realizing the full potential of Chabahar Port.

Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said the prime minister felicitated Iran on Thursday on joining the BRICS family.

"President Raeisi thanked the PM for India’s support in achieving this outcome. President Raeisi also congratulated the PM on the success of the Chandrayaan mission," Bagchi said.

Raeisi and Modi reviewed bilateral ties including in areas of trade and investment, energy, connectivity, and counter-terrorism, Bagchi said.

“They agreed to fast-track infrastructure cooperation, including the Chabahar project. They also exchanged views on regional developments, including Afghanistan."

A day earlier, Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian had congratulated India "on the flawless Chandrayaan3 mission", saying the achievement resonates around the world.

Lula: Sanctions a 'criminal weapon'

In a separate meeting with Raeisi, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva congratulated the Islamic Republic on joining the BRICS group.

He said there are many opportunities in the fields of scientific, technological and academic exchanges and culture to expand cooperation between the two countries.

The president of Brazil denounced sanctions as a “criminal weapon” against world nations that targets the people of the embargoed country.

He said the current UN structure is incapable of preventing the encroachment of the powers against the rights of other nations, which requires the current structures to be redesigned.

BRICS, President Lula said, should be able to establish a new economic logic and order in the world.

President Raeisi expressed his satisfaction with Lula’s re-election, stressing the need for further development of relations between the two countries and expansion of their bilateral cooperation.

He also touched on the American officials’ acknowledgement of the scandalous failure of the “maximum pressure” policy against Iran.

Raeisi said despite the cruel sanctions, Iran's advances in science and technology have been going in leaps and bounds.

'Great achievement' 

Iran was among dozens of countries that sought membership in BRICS and had submitted a formal application to join the body.

Amir-Abdollahian, who accompanies Raeisi on his trip to Johannesburg, in a message on X praised Iran's membership in BRICS as a "great achievement", stressing that such a membership "not only boosts multilateralism but also helps [Iran] achieve goals and develop other macro strategies of the government in implementing a dynamic diplomacy."

Raeisi arrived in Pretoria, South Africa's administrative capital, on Thursday morning to attend the "Friends of BRICS" summit.

The group consists of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, which collectively represent around 40 percent of the global population and a quarter of the world's gross domestic product (GDP).

The bloc of developing economies announced Thursday that it had agreed to admit Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, the UAE and Saudi Arabia as new members from the first of January 2024.    

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