In a joint statement issued on the sidelines of their summit in New Delhi on Saturday, BRICS countries called for the utmost restraint and urged the avoidance of actions that could worsen the war in the Middle East, expressing deep concern over the continuing escalation of tensions in the region. Members including Russia, China, India, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Iran joined the position.
Agreement collapse escalates US-Iran confrontation
The call came as tensions between the United States and Iran continued following the collapse of an agreement reached last June, with the confrontation focused in recent days on the Strait of Hormuz. US President Donald Trump said earlier on Saturday that things were going well regarding Iran, predicting that the war would end soon. He reiterated that Tehran would not possess a nuclear weapon.
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has declined sharply since the war between Washington and Tehran began on 28 February, amid Iranian threats against vessels. The number of large commercial ships crossing the strait each day fell from about 125 under normal conditions to dozens of vessels.
