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

In New Delhi, the BRICS group of developing nations expressed alarm over the escalating tensions in the Middle East and vehemently denounced the use of sanctions not sanctioned by the United Nations, as their leaders convened in the capital city to fortify their standing in the global arena, which many perceive as dominated by the West.

The gathering, which featured Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, voiced apprehension over "deliberate assaults" on civilian infrastructure and peaceful nuclear facilities operating under the oversight of the U.N. atomic energy agency, emphasizing that nuclear safety and security must be safeguarded during armed confrontations.

The declaration was interpreted as subtle rebuke of the United States and Israel's strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. The leaders also directed their ire towards unilateral sanctions not ratified by the U.N. Security Council. While no specific countries were named, Russia, one of the founding members of BRICS, has encountered Western sanctions following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

"We call for the elimination of such unlawful measures, which undermine international law and the principles and purposes of the U.N. Charter," the leaders asserted.