BRICS leaders voice concern over Middle East, condemn unilateral sanctions at India summit

NEW DELHI — BRICS nations voiced apprehension over escalating tensions in the Middle East and denounced the imposition of sanctions without the endorsement of the United Nations, during a summit held in India's capital city. The meeting, which comprised Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian among other leaders, raised concerns about "deliberate attacks" on civilian infrastructure and peaceful nuclear facilities under the supervision of the U.N. atomic energy agency, emphasizing the necessity of safeguarding nuclear safety and security during armed conflicts.

This stance was interpreted as a subtle rebuke of U.S. and Israeli assaults on Iranian nuclear facilities. The leaders also criticized unilateral sanctions that were not sanctioned by the U.N. Security Council. While they refrained from naming any specific countries, Russia, a founding member of BRICS, has experienced Western sanctions in the aftermath of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

The group denounced such unlawful measures, asserting their violation of international law and the principles outlined in the U.N. Charter.