Speaking at a closed-door BRICS leaders’ meeting in New Delhi, Pezeshkian stressed the need to expand economic and financial cooperation among the group’s members.

He said expanding trade in national currencies, strengthening independent payment mechanisms and enhancing the role of institutions such as the New Development Bank could help create a more balanced global economic architecture.

Pezeshkian described reforming global governance structures as a cornerstone of inclusive governance, saying the UN Security Council and international financial institutions should reflect the world’s new realities and the actual role of Global South countries.

He also called for turning multilateralism from a slogan into practical action and proposed stronger measures to counter unilateral sanctions, warning that such sanctions target not only governments but also ordinary people, patients, children and the development of countries.

Pezeshkian called for transforming areas of competition into cooperation and strengthening coordination mechanisms among BRICS members. Establishing joint systems, addressing administrative shortcomings and creating a permanent secretariat could help ensure that joint decisions are implemented more consistently, quickly and efficiently, he said.

The president said Iran is ready to cooperate within the BRICS framework to advance these objectives.

BRICS was established in 2009 by Brazil, Russia, India and China, with South Africa joining in 2011. The group has expanded in recent years by admitting new members, with Iran joining in 2024.

India assumed the rotating BRICS presidency at the beginning of 2026. The 18th BRICS summit is being held Sept. 12-13 in New Delhi, with economic cooperation, trade expansion, financing, technology, energy and strengthening the role of Global South countries among the group’s key areas of focus.