New delhi: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian emphasized the need for BRICS to foster an environment that safeguards legitimate trade from obstruction by any country. He made these remarks during a speech at the 18th BRICS leaders' summit held in New Delhi, highlighting the increased economic pressures Iran faces following conflicts with the US and Israel.

According to Anadolu Agency, Pezeshkian underscored the complexity of the current global economic landscape, pointing out the widespread use of economic tools to exert pressure, which has endangered legitimate international trade. He questioned the BRICS bloc's strategy in addressing these challenges, advocating for a shift from potential to operational cooperation among its members.

BRICS, originally founded in 2006, comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, with recent additions including Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, and Iran. Indonesia is set to join in early 2025. Pezeshkian noted that Iran has been subjected to comprehensive sanctions, which have intensified following recent conflicts with the US and Israel.

He highlighted that these aggressions have demonstrated the intertwined nature of economic, national, and regional security. Stressing the broader implications of political and military pressures on a country's trade and financial systems, he warned of the potential destabilization effects on regional and global economies.

Pezeshkian also called for an environment conducive to unobstructed legitimate trade and advocated for the increased use of national currencies in transactions among BRICS nations. Furthermore, he expressed Iran's willingness to serve as a strategic partner in BRICS' energy and transport supply chains, reiterating the country's readiness to collaborate with BRICS members to build a more equitable global economy.