BRICS; Efforts for Multilateralism

As the global economic and political order shifts towards a broader distribution of power among various actors and centers, Masoud Pezeshkian's trip to New Delhi for the 18th BRICS summit should be viewed as more than just a ceremonial or purely diplomatic presence. Iran, which became a full member of this bloc at the beginning of 2024, is now striving to utilize the capacities of multilateral mechanisms to mitigate the impacts of Western pressures, diversify economic partners, and strengthen its position in the emerging global order. The President's emphasis on developing the use of national currencies, multilateralism, establishing a joint reinsurance company, and more active participation in the digital economy indicates that Tehran aims to transform its BRICS membership from a political achievement into a tool for creating tangible economic benefits. However, the significance of this trip is most pronounced in the context of Iran's relationship with India and other emerging powers; countries that, while cooperating with each other, seek to enhance their strategic independence. From this perspective, BRICS cannot be viewed merely as an anti-American bloc; this group reflects the efforts of a diverse range of countries to reduce dependence on a single power center and increase their share in global decision-making. For Iran, such an environment is considered an important opportunity, but membership alone cannot eliminate the limitations imposed by sanctions or barriers to foreign trade. The gap between BRICS' potential capacity and its actual achievements for Tehran directly depends on Iran's ability to define common interests and implement practical projects in areas such as energy, trade, investment, transit corridors, Chabahar, technology, and financial cooperation. Therefore, the main question following Pezeshkian's trip is not how close Iran has come to BRICS, but rather how effectively Tehran can leverage this membership to build a diverse network of economic and political relations.