NEW DELHI — In their fourth high-level exchange since the outbreak of the West Asia war, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and his Iranian counterpart, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, held a late-night diplomatic dialogue on Thursday, March 12, 2026. The conversation underscored Tehran’s increasing reliance on the BRICS platform to counter Western military pressure, while New Delhi reaffirmed its commitment to regional stability through multilateral engagement.
The meeting comes at a critical juncture, as the conflict between the Iran-led axis and the U.S.-Israel alliance enters its third week. Araghchi briefed Jaishankar on what Tehran describes as “acts of aggression and atrocities” following the February 28 strikes, reiterating Iran’s “firm resolve” to exercise its legitimate right to self-defence under international law.
BRICS as a Diplomatic Shield
A central theme of the discussion was the potential for the BRICS grouping—which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, alongside newer members like Iran—to act as a stabilising force.
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Multilateral Push: Araghchi highlighted BRICS as a vital platform for emerging powers to strengthen cooperation and play a “constructive role” in safeguarding international security against unilateral military actions.
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Rallying Support: Analysts view Tehran’s focus on BRICS as a strategic move to build a non-Western consensus against the U.S.-led military campaign and to secure diplomatic leverage within a forum that represents a significant portion of the global population and economy.
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Call for Condemnation: The Iranian minister urged regional and international organisations to issue formal condemnations of the military strikes targeting Iranian territory.
India’s Balancing Act
For India, the conversation reflects its delicate balancing act in a rapidly deteriorating regional environment. Minister Jaishankar expressed India’s readiness to expand bilateral and multilateral cooperation but maintained a focus on sustainable stability.
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Regional Security: Jaishankar emphasised the importance of finding diplomatic pathways to de-escalate the conflict, noting that Indian interests—particularly energy security and the safety of its large diaspora in the Gulf—are at stake.
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Bilateral Interests: Beyond the conflict, the two ministers discussed ongoing bilateral projects, including the strategic development of the Chabahar Port, which remains a key transit point for India’s trade with Central Asia.
The sustained contact between New Delhi and Tehran highlights India’s role as a potential bridge-builder in the crisis. While the U.S. and Israel continue to target Iranian military infrastructure, India’s engagement with Iran via forums like BRICS and the SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation) ensures that diplomatic channels remain open, even as the risk of a wider regional war grows.
