Jaishankar at BRICS: West Asia tensions, Hormuz blockade threaten global economy
Synopsis
With Iran reportedly blocking the Strait of Hormuz — carrying 20 per cent of global oil and LNG — EAM Jaishankar used India's BRICS chair platform to put West Asia front and centre, calling safe waterways 'vital for global economic well-being.' Tehran's first high-level diplomatic outreach since the conflict began, arriving symbolically on a plane named after 168 schoolgirls killed in a missile strike, signals how high the stakes have become.
Key Takeaways
Jaishankar flagged the West Asia conflict and threats to the Strait of Hormuz and Red Sea as matters of global concern at the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting in New Delhi on 14 May 2026 .
Iran reportedly blocked the Strait of Hormuz , which carries nearly 20 per cent of the world's oil and LNG, rattling global energy markets.
Jaishankar called for UN Security Council reform in both permanent and non-permanent categories, warning that “continued delay comes at a high cost.” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in New Delhi for a three-day visit — Tehran's first high-level diplomatic outreach since the West Asia conflict began.
Iran's Deputy FM Kazem Gharibabadi called BRICS participation a “strategic step” and urged opposition to US unilateral sanctions as part of “defending economic justice.” The meeting also saw participation by Russian FM Sergei Lavrov and Indonesian FM Sugiono , among other senior BRICS representatives.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Thursday, 14 May 2026 warned that the deteriorating security situation in West Asia poses a direct threat to global economic stability, flagging risks to maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea as he delivered India's national statement at the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting in New Delhi. The meeting is being held under India's 2026 BRICS chairship.
Jaishankar's Core Warning on West Asia
“The conflict in West Asia merits particular attention. Continuing tensions, risks to maritime traffic, and disruptions to energy infrastructure highlight the fragility of the situation. Safe and unimpeded maritime flows through international waterways, including the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea, remain vital for global economic well-being,” Jaishankar said.
His remarks came as escalating tensions in the region rattled global energy markets, with oil and gas prices surging after Iran reportedly blocked the Strait of Hormuz — the strategic corridor between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman that carries nearly 20 per cent of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies.
India's Call for Reformed Multilateralism
Jaishankar reaffirmed India's “strong commitment” to the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, stressing that “respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity must remain the foundation of international relations.” He added that “dialogue and diplomacy are the only sustainable means of resolving conflicts.”
He also raised concern over the weakening of the multilateral system, describing the state of the United Nations as “particularly worrisome.” “With each passing day, the case for reformed multilateralism only gets stronger. This includes the reform of the UN Security Council in both the permanent and non-permanent categories. Continued delay comes at a high cost,” he said.
BRICS as a Stabilising Force
In his opening address to the meeting, Jaishankar stressed the need for deeper cooperation among BRICS member nations amid growing geopolitical and economic uncertainties. “We meet at a time of considerable flux in international relations. Ongoing conflicts, economic uncertainties, and challenges in trade, technology, and climate are shaping the global landscape,” he said.
He noted a “growing expectation, particularly from emerging markets and developing countries, that BRICS will play a constructive and stabilising role.” The meeting was attended by senior representatives including Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono, and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, among others from BRICS nations and partner countries.
Iran's High-Level Diplomatic Push
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in New Delhi on Wednesday for a three-day official visit — marking Tehran's first high-level diplomatic outreach since the outbreak of the conflict in West Asia. He arrived aboard an aircraft symbolically named 'Minab168', a reference to the 168 schoolgirls reportedly killed in a missile strike on a school in the Iranian city of Minab.
Araghchi is expected to hold wide-ranging bilateral talks with Jaishankar, with discussions likely to focus on the deepening crisis in West Asia. Iran had earlier called on India, as the current BRICS chair, to play an “independent role” in bringing an end to what it described as US-Israel hostilities against Iran.
Iran's Strategic Pitch at BRICS
Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi, also present in New Delhi for the meeting, said Tehran views its participation in BRICS as a “strategic step towards strengthening genuine multilateralism.” In a post shared on X, Gharibabadi said the BRICS meeting “presents an important opportunity for dialogue on the future direction of cooperation among developing nations.”
He argued that Iran's “geopolitical, energy, transit, scientific, and human capacities” position it to play “an effective role in the BRICS agenda for balanced development, economic security, and regional connectivity.” Gharibabadi also called opposition to US unilateral sanctions “an inseparable part of defending economic justice and the rights of nations to development.”
With the Strait of Hormuz blockade already sending energy prices higher, the outcome of this week's BRICS diplomatic exchanges in New Delhi will be closely watched by global markets and governments alike.
Point of View
Framed alongside multilateral decay, is also telling — India is using the BRICS chair to advance its own permanent membership case. What mainstream coverage misses is the tension at the heart of this meeting: India is chairing a forum where Iran is lobbying against US sanctions, Russia is present despite the Ukraine war, and New Delhi must somehow emerge as a credible neutral broker without alienating Washington.
NationPress
4 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did EAM Jaishankar say about West Asia at the BRICS meeting?
Jaishankar warned that continuing tensions in West Asia, risks to maritime traffic, and disruptions to energy infrastructure highlight the fragility of the situation. He specifically called for safe and unimpeded maritime flows through the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea, describing them as vital for global economic well-being.
Why is the Strait of Hormuz significant in this context?
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical global shipping corridor between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, carrying nearly 20 per cent of the world's oil and LNG supplies. Iran reportedly blocked the strait amid the West Asia conflict, causing oil and gas prices to surge globally.
Why did Iranian FM Araghchi visit New Delhi?
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in New Delhi on Wednesday for a three-day official visit — Tehran's first high-level diplomatic outreach since the West Asia conflict began. He is expected to hold bilateral talks with EAM Jaishankar focused on the deepening crisis, and Iran has called on India as BRICS chair to play an independent role in ending US-Israel hostilities against Iran.
What is India's position on UN Security Council reform?
EAM Jaishankar reiterated India's call for reform of the UN Security Council in both permanent and non-permanent categories, warning that continued delay comes at a high cost. He described the current state of the UN as 'particularly worrisome' amid what he called a weakening multilateral system.
Who attended the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting in New Delhi?
The meeting, held under India's 2026 BRICS chairship, was attended by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono, and senior representatives from other BRICS nations and partner countries.
