New Delhi: Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi arrived in New Delhi on Wednesday to attend the two-day BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, hosted by India under its 2026 chairship. The arrival was confirmed by the Iranian Embassy in India on its official X account.
The visit is being seen as one of the most significant diplomatic arrivals in New Delhi this year, coming just over two months after the outbreak of hostilities between the United States, Israel, and Iran. This is the first high-level diplomatic engagement from Tehran since that conflict began.
What Is the BRICS Meeting About?
India is hosting the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on May 14 and 15 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a press release that “India will host the BRICS Foreign Ministers Meeting on 14th and 15th May 2026. The meeting will be chaired by External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar. BRICS Foreign Ministers and heads of delegations from member and partner countries will participate in the meeting. They will also call on the honourable Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi.”
On the second day, ministers will take part in a special session titled “BRICS at 20: Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability,” followed by discussions on reforms in global governance and the multilateral system. This meeting is the first major ministerial gathering under India’s BRICS chairship and is expected to set the agenda for the BRICS Leaders’ Summit later this year in New Delhi.
Araghchi to Meet Jaishankar: Hormuz, Energy and Chabahar
Beyond the multilateral meeting, Araghchi is scheduled to hold one-on-one bilateral talks with EAM S. Jaishankar. The agenda is packed and urgent. The situation at the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway through which roughly 20 per cent of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas passes, is expected to dominate discussions. Since Iran virtually blocked the strait following the US- Israel joint airstrike on Iran on February 28, 2026 , global oil and gas prices have surged sharply, putting serious pressure on energy-importing countries like India.
India is likely to press Araghchi for safe passage of merchant vessels through the strait. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already appealed to citizens to use fuel judiciously to reduce pressure on India’s foreign exchange reserves, a clear sign of the economic strain the crisis is causing domestically. Today, the world is going through a difficult time. The crisis in West Asia has pushed crude oil prices above 100 dollars a barrel. India imports nearly 85% of its oil needs. Every drop of fuel we save is a contribution to the nation’s economy and security.
Modi said “I appeal to each and every citizen – use public transport wherever possible. Carpool with your colleagues and neighbours. Avoid unnecessary use of petrol, diesel, and gas.”
The future of Chabahar Port, in which India has made substantial strategic and financial investments, is also expected to feature in the talks. Both countries view Chabahar as a key hub of the International North–South Transport Corridor, an alternative trade route that bypasses the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz altogether, making it even more critical in the current situation.
PM Modi Meeting: A Strong Political Signal
All visiting foreign ministers, including Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, are scheduled to call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi during their stay in New Delhi.
“BRICS Foreign Ministers and Heads of Delegation from Member and Partner Countries will participate in the meeting. They will also call on PM Narendra Modi,” MEA said.
The meeting carries both symbolic and political significance, signalling that India is engaging with Iran at the highest diplomatic level while carefully balancing its strategic relationships with the United States and Gulf nations.
Araghchi’s three-day visit to India is being closely watched across the globe. For New Delhi, balancing its energy interests, strategic partnerships, and its role as a responsible multilateral leader will be the defining challenge of this week’s diplomacy.
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