Iran MP places schoolbag at BRICS Forum over Minab school strike, urges UN Charter action
Synopsis
At the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum in New Delhi, Iranian MP Ali Haddadi placed a schoolbag on the podium — a stark symbol of the 160+ children reportedly killed in a strike on a school in Minab — and demanded collective global action against UN Charter violations. The gesture transformed a diplomatic gathering into a pointed humanitarian statement, with Iran's delegation also meeting PM Modi and External Affairs Minister Jaishankar on the sidelines.
Key Takeaways
Iranian MP Ali Haddadi placed a schoolbag on the podium at the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum in New Delhi on 26 October 2026 , in memory of children killed in Minab .
More than 160 children were reportedly killed in a strike on Shajareh Tayyibeh School in Minab on 28 February .
Haddadi called for 'a clear and firm stance against crimes against humanity' and collective action to uphold UN Charter principles.
Iranian MP Ahmad Naderi held bilateral meetings with the heads of Brazil's and China's parliamentary delegations on the Forum's sidelines.
The Iranian parliamentary delegation also met PM Narendra Modi , External Affairs Minister S.
Jaishankar , and Congress MP Shashi Tharoor during the Forum.
Iranian Member of Parliament Ali Haddadi on Monday, 26 October 2026, placed a schoolbag on the podium at the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum in New Delhi as a symbolic gesture in memory of children killed in a strike on Shajareh Tayyibeh School in Minab, calling for collective global action against violations of United Nations (UN) Charter principles. The act drew attention to an attack that reportedly claimed the lives of more than 160 children on 28 February during the US-Israeli war against Iran.
The Minab School Strike
According to the Iranian Embassy in India, more than 160 children were killed when a strike hit Shajareh Tayyibeh School in Minab on 28 February, at what Iranian officials describe as the outset of the US-Israeli conflict with Iran. Haddadi invoked this incident at the Forum, calling for a 'clear and firm' stance against crimes committed against humanity. The symbolic schoolbag was intended to keep attention on civilian casualties, particularly children, in the ongoing conflict.
Iran's Message at the BRICS Forum
In his address, Haddadi stressed that collective global action was essential to uphold the principles of the UN Charter, which prohibits the use of force against civilian populations. The Iranian Embassy in India shared details of his remarks in a post on X, stating that he 'called for a clear and firm stance against crimes against humanity.' This marks one of the more striking moments of the two-day parliamentary gathering, which has brought together legislative representatives from BRICS member and partner countries to discuss parliamentary cooperation and people-centric development.
Bilateral Meetings on the Sidelines
The Iranian parliamentary delegation, led by Ahmad Naderi, also held a series of bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the Forum. Naderi met with the head of Brazil's parliamentary delegation to discuss ways to strengthen parliamentary cooperation and review regional and international developments. He separately met the head of China's parliamentary delegation, with both sides emphasising the importance of expanding bilateral cooperation across various fields, particularly in parliamentary ties.
Iranian Delegation Meets Indian Leadership
In a significant show of diplomatic engagement, the Iranian parliamentary delegation met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, and Congress Member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor during the Forum. The Iranian Embassy in India described these as 'courtesy calls' that underscored 'the importance of bilateral relations between Iran and India.' The delegation had arrived in New Delhi on Sunday ahead of the Forum's opening.
Context: BRICS Parliamentary Forum 2026
The 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum, hosted in New Delhi, convenes legislative leaders from the bloc's member and partner states to advance frameworks for parliamentary cooperation. This year's edition carries additional weight given the ongoing conflict involving Iran and the broader geopolitical tensions within the BRICS grouping. Iran's decision to use the podium for a pointed humanitarian appeal — rather than purely diplomatic messaging — signals how conflict narratives are increasingly entering multilateral parliamentary spaces. The Forum is expected to conclude with a joint statement on people-centric development frameworks.
Point of View
However striking, will be received differently by BRICS members: Russia and China have their own reasons to amplify UN Charter arguments, while India, hosting the Forum and separately meeting Iranian parliamentarians, must balance strategic autonomy against the optics of proximity to Tehran's messaging. What the mainstream coverage may miss is that the bilateral meetings with Modi and Jaishankar carry equal diplomatic weight: they signal that India-Iran ties, despite US pressure, remain actively managed at the highest levels.
NationPress
26 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Iranian MP Ali Haddadi place a schoolbag at the BRICS Parliamentary Forum?
Haddadi placed a schoolbag on the podium as a symbolic tribute to children reportedly killed in a strike on Shajareh Tayyibeh School in Minab on 28 February. He used the gesture to call for collective global action against violations of UN Charter principles and a 'clear and firm' stance against crimes against humanity.
What happened in the Minab school strike?
According to Iranian officials, more than 160 children were killed when a strike hit Shajareh Tayyibeh School in Minab on 28 February, which Iran describes as occurring at the start of the US-Israeli war against Iran. The incident has not been independently verified by international bodies as per available reports.
What is the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum?
The 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum is a multilateral gathering of legislative leaders from BRICS member and partner countries, hosted in New Delhi in October 2026. Its stated focus is strengthening parliamentary cooperation and advancing people-centric development frameworks.
Who did the Iranian parliamentary delegation meet in India?
The Iranian delegation met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, and Congress MP Shashi Tharoor during the Forum. Delegation head Ahmad Naderi also held bilateral meetings with the heads of Brazil's and China's parliamentary delegations on the sidelines.
What was the outcome of Iran-India meetings at the BRICS Forum?
The meetings were described by the Iranian Embassy as 'courtesy calls' that underscored the importance of bilateral relations between Iran and India. No formal agreements were announced, but the engagements signal that diplomatic ties between the two countries remain actively maintained at senior levels.
