Swapna Kumbar , Bengaluru - Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi arrived in New Delhi on Wednesday for the high stakes BRICS foreign ministers’ meeting chaired by India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, bringing the shadow of the ongoing Iran conflict directly into the centre of the bloc’s diplomatic agenda. Araghchi’s arrival aboard an aircraft named “Minab168” a symbolic reference to the 168 girls reportedly killed in a missile strike in Iran’s Minab city during the US-Israel conflict immediately drew international attention and underscored Tehran’s attempt to frame the war as a humanitarian and geopolitical crisis.

The two day BRICS meeting in New Delhi comes at a particularly sensitive moment for the grouping as member nations remain divided over how strongly to respond to the escalating conflict involving Iran, Israel, and the United States. Tehran has been urging BRICS nations, especially India as the current chair, to adopt a firmer diplomatic position against the US-Israel military campaign and push for stronger condemnation of attacks on Iranian territory. However, disagreements within the bloc have complicated efforts to present a unified stance, particularly after earlier BRICS discussions reportedly failed to produce a joint statement due to disputes involving Gulf states and accusations tied to attacks on energy infrastructure.

Araghchi is also expected to hold bilateral talks with Jaishankar focusing on regional security, the Strait of Hormuz crisis, energy stability, and India-Iran strategic cooperation. The absence of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi from the Delhi gathering has further highlighted growing geopolitical complexities within BRICS at a time when the bloc is attempting to project itself as a major counterweight to Western influence. Analysts say the meeting will test whether BRICS can maintain internal unity while member states face increasingly divergent positions on global security and diplomacy.

Araghchi’s visit to Delhi has transformed the BRICS foreign ministers’ meeting into more than just a routine diplomatic gathering, placing the Iran conflict and wider geopolitical realignments at the heart of discussions. As tensions continue across West Asia, the outcome of the Delhi talks could shape how BRICS positions itself in an increasingly polarized global order where diplomacy, energy security, and strategic alliances are becoming deeply interconnected.