The Iranian regime signed onto a joint statement from a group including Russia and China Saturday urging a halt to the “escalation” of war in the Middle East.
The joint statement came at a meeting of BRICS nations – Brazil, Russia, India, China, Iran and others – formed as a counterweight to US-influenced institutions – in New Delhi hosted by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“We express deep concern over the continued escalation of tensions in Middle East/West Asia … call for exercising maximum restraint, as well as avoiding actions that could further aggravate the situation,” the joint statement read.
It follows a recent escalation of Iranian attacks on US bases and allies in the Gulf region.
Among the 11 BRICS members signing on was the United Arab Emirates, which houses a US air base and has suffered Iranian drone and missile attacks — and Saudi Arabia, which shut down its East-West pipeline Friday after attacks from Iran-backed Iraqi militias set it on fire with strikes.
The Saturday conference came as the US cranks up economic pressure on Iran, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent vowing an “economic D-Day” last month to cripple trading partners with the Islamic Republic.
The statement also called to protect civilians, respect state sovereignty, and spoke of protecting global supply chains – even as the US and Tehran clash over the Strait of Hormuz, choking a crucial artery for global energy trade.
Irani’s President Masoud Pezeshkian, who attended the conference, hit back at the US in comments from New Delhi on Friday saying: “They want to bully us, and we do not want to be bullied.”
The joint statement also raised “serious concerns” about rising global tariffs.
The conference came a day after Russian strongman Vladimir Putin, who has continued to pound Ukraine with daily drone and missile attacks, mocked the G7 group of economic powerhouses – which kicked Russia out following its annexation of Crimea in 2014.
“Over the last five years, more than 40% of the world GDP have been produced by the BRICs countries. Whereas the contribution of the so-called G7, the great seven, I don’t know why they call it the the Group of Seven, it stands at only 29%,” Putin sneered.
The G7 countries, with about a 10th of the world’s population, produce about 44% of the world’s GDP, but 28% when calculated by purchasing power parity.
The conference also marked Chinese President Xi Jinping’s first trip to India in seven years, after the two nations fought through border clashes in 2020.
The Chinese leader is expected to visit the US later this month for a meeting with President Trump at the White House.
