Iranian president urges BRICS to establish permanent secretariat, resist unilateral sanctions

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian called Saturday for BRICS members to resist unilateral sanctions and establish a permanent secretariat to improve the bloc’s effectiveness.

“To enhance efficiency and accelerate the implementation of BRICS decisions, measures such as resisting unilateral sanctions, transforming competition into cooperation and establishing a permanent secretariat are necessary,” he said in his speech to the BRICS summit in the Indian capital New Delhi, as cited by the semi-official Tasnim News Agency.

Pezeshkian outlined three main areas supported by Iran within the bloc. They include strengthening political coordination based on the UN Charter and respect for national sovereignty, developing economic and financial relations independent of “monopolistic instruments,” and expanding cooperation in science, technology, energy and food security for the benefit of the Global South.

The Iranian president also addressed the Palestinian issue, describing the realization of the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination as “a serious test of the credibility and legitimacy of global governance.”

“Any just solution requires respect for the will of the Palestinian people,” he said.

“BRICS, as a voice of justice, must play a more active role in ending the occupation and guaranteeing their legitimate rights,” he added.