India Backs BRICS Position Against Strikes on Iran

Member States Emphasise the 'Urgent Need to Break the Cycle of Violence and Restore Peace'

- Rezaul H Laskar

NEW DELHI: A little more than a week after disassociating itself from a statement by the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) condemning Israel's attacks on Iran, India joined other members of BRICS in expressing grave concern at the military strikes on Iran and the escalation of the security situation in the Middle East.

The BRICS—which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, Indonesia, and Iran—issued the statement on Tuesday to say that the military strikes amounted to a violation of international law and the UN Charter.

Unlike the statement issued by SCO on June 14, which directly named Israel, the BRICS statement made no mention of either the US or Israel while referring to the military strikes against Iran. This made it possible for the Indian side to sign on to the statement, people familiar with the matter said.