Iran wins backing of BRICS allies over Israel, US strikes

(L-R) Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi at the Brics summit in Brazil on July 6, 2025. (Photograph: AFP)
Iran secured backing from fellow BRICS nations at a summit in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday, as the bloc condemned recent military strikes by Israel and the United States targeting Iranian military, nuclear, and civilian infrastructure.

“We condemn the military strikes against the Islamic Republic of Iran since 13 June 2025,” the bloc said in a joint statement, stopping short of directly naming the perpetrators.

The 11-member group also expressed “serious concern” over attacks on civilian infrastructure and peaceful nuclear facilities, calling the strikes a “violation of international law.”

The statement marks a diplomatic win for Tehran, which has struggled to gain broad international support following a 12-day bombing campaign by Israel, culminating in US airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear sites at Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan.

While Iran is a new BRICS member, traditional powers like Russia and China—which maintain close ties with Tehran—played a key role in shaping the summit’s language. Initial divisions within the bloc over how strongly to rebuke Israel and the U.S. were resolved after Tehran pushed for firmer wording.

The declaration adds to growing international criticism of the escalating military actions in the region, especially amid wider tensions involving Gaza and Iran’s nuclear program.

AFP