Iran’s Kazem Gharibabadi Urges BRICS Action Against Unilateralism and Military Aggression
On the sidelines of the BRICS National Coordinators meeting on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for International and Legal Affairs, Kazem Gharibabadi, called for a unified bloc response to combat unilateralism and recent military aggression in the region.
In a series of high-level diplomatic engagements, Gharibabadi, acting as Iran’s national representative to the BRICS group, met with counterparts from Indonesia, South Africa, Brazil, India, and Egypt. The discussions centered on the necessity of holding aggressors accountable for illegal strikes against member states and the urgent need to uphold the principles of the United Nations Charter.
The meetings come at a time of heightened geopolitical sensitivity, as the expanding BRICS bloc seeks to redefine its role in global governance. Gharibabadi’s message was clear: the bloc must move beyond economic cooperation to address the security implications of unilateral military actions that threaten international law.
A Call for Multilateral Accountability
Gharibabadi detailed Iran’s position regarding recent military escalations, characterizing them as direct violations of international legal frameworks. He argued that such actions undermine the collective security sought by the international community and urged BRICS members to confront the trend of unilateralism through a coordinated diplomatic front.
The Iranian official emphasized that the stability of the global order relies on the enforcement of established norms. By calling for accountability for illegal strikes, Gharibabadi is pushing the BRICS nations to leverage their growing collective weight to act as a check against actions taken outside the consensus of multilateral institutions.
This push for accountability aligns with the broader objectives of several BRICS members who view the current international security architecture as increasingly prone to unilateral decisions by powerful individual states. The discussions suggested a growing consensus that the bloc’s influence must extend into the realm of international legal enforcement.
Global Economic Risks and Supply Chain Disruptions
While the security implications were central to the talks, the economic fallout of regional hostilities emerged as a primary concern for several member nations. The discussions highlighted how military aggression in the Middle East is not merely a regional issue but a systemic threat to the global economy.
The Indonesian representative noted that recent conflicts have already exerted significant pressure on global supply chains and energy prices. Indonesia expressed a readiness to pursue bilateral cooperation within the BRICS framework to mitigate these risks, while emphasizing the need for a diplomatic breakthrough to restore market predictability.
India echoed these concerns, highlighting the direct impact of ongoing hostilities on its domestic economy. The Indian envoy pointed to rising costs in energy, fertilizer, and shipping as critical vulnerabilities. According to the envoy, the disruption of these essential sectors poses a significant challenge to India’s economic stability, underscoring the interconnectedness of BRICS trade routes and Middle Eastern security.
Diplomatic Solidarity and Regional Stability
The meetings revealed varying but overlapping approaches to the crisis, ranging from historical diplomatic precedents to modern multilateral commitments. Brazil, for instance, declared its solidarity with the Iranian people and government, maintaining a principled opposition to military strikes. The Brazilian envoy invoked the 2010 Tehran Declaration as a cornerstone of their commitment to finding diplomatic rather than military solutions to regional tensions.
South Africa reaffirmed its long-standing commitment to the principles of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and the UN Charter. The South African delegation emphasized that multilateralism remains the only viable path to preventing unchecked aggression and maintaining a balanced global order.
Egypt, drawing on its deep historical ties with Iran, expressed a willingness to serve as a constructive mediator. The Egyptian representative stated that its goal is to play an active role in ending current conflicts and restoring the regional stability necessary for both security and economic growth.
| Member State | Primary Focus/Stance |
|---|---|
| Brazil | Diplomatic solutions. cites 2010 Tehran Declaration |
| India | Economic impact on energy, fertilizer, and shipping |
| Indonesia | Global supply chains and energy price stability |
| South Africa | Commitment to multilateralism and the Non-Aligned Movement |
| Egypt | Regional stability and historical diplomatic ties |
The Future of BRICS Economic and Security Integration
Beyond the immediate security crisis, Gharibabadi underscored the vast economic and trade potential inherent in the BRICS partnership. He called for more active collaboration among members to ensure the bloc plays a decisive role in international forums, suggesting that economic strength is the foundation upon which political influence is built.
The discussions signaled a potential shift in how the BRICS bloc operates, moving from a focus on trade-centric cooperation toward a more integrated approach that includes security advocacy and diplomatic mediation. As the bloc continues to expand, the ability of its members to find common ground on issues of “unilateralism” will likely define its effectiveness on the world stage.
The next phase of these discussions is expected to follow the upcoming scheduled coordination meetings, where national representatives will likely attempt to formalize the diplomatic stances expressed during these high-level talks.
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