Ghalibaf to Skip BRICS Parliamentary Forum in Delhi

Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, will not attend the 12th BRICS forum for parliamentary speakers in New Delhi due to “unforeseen circumstances”, the Iranian embassy in India announced on Saturday. Despite his absence, Iran will send a parliamentary delegation to participate in the meeting.

The announcement confirms that Iran intends to remain engaged in the parliamentary discussions involving BRICS member countries, even though its most senior parliamentary representative will not be present. The embassy said the Iranian delegation would continue consultations with representatives from other member countries on strengthening bilateral and multilateral cooperation.

The development comes as India hosts the meeting of speakers of the parliaments of BRICS member countries, providing a platform for parliamentary dialogue and cooperation among participating nations.

Iran Confirms Ghalibaf’s Absence From BRICS Parliamentary Forum

In its statement, the Iranian embassy said Ghalibaf, the Speaker of Iran’s Islamic Consultative Assembly, would be unable to attend the meeting because of unforeseen circumstances. The embassy did not provide further details about the reason for his absence.

Although Ghalibaf will not travel to New Delhi for the forum, Iranian parliamentary representatives are expected to participate in the proceedings. The embassy clarified that an Iranian delegation would attend, maintaining the country’s presence at the gathering.

The distinction is significant for understanding Iran’s position: the announcement concerns the speaker’s personal attendance, rather than a withdrawal by Iran from the parliamentary meeting.

Iran also reiterated its commitment to participating actively in BRICS summits and meetings. The embassy said the country remained committed to engagement at the highest levels and to advancing cooperation with other members of the grouping.

Iran Reaffirms Commitment to BRICS Cooperation

The Iranian embassy emphasised that the country intends to remain involved in BRICS activities despite Ghalibaf’s absence from the New Delhi forum.

“As one of the members of BRICS, Iran reaffirms its commitment to active and effective participation at the highest levels in the summits and meetings of this grouping,” the embassy said.

The statement added that the Iranian delegation would continue dialogue and consultations with representatives of other BRICS member countries. These discussions are intended to expand and deepen cooperation at both bilateral and multilateral levels, particularly in parliamentary relations.

“In this regard, the Iranian delegation will continue its dialogue and consultations with delegations from BRICS member countries, with a view to expanding and deepening bilateral and multilateral cooperation, particularly in the field of parliamentary relations and cooperation,” the embassy said.

The remarks indicate that Iran views parliamentary engagement as an important part of its participation in the grouping. By sending a delegation, Tehran can continue discussions with other members even without its parliamentary speaker attending in person.

Iran Thanks India for Hosting the Meeting in New Delhi

The Iranian embassy also expressed appreciation to the Indian government for arranging and hosting the parliamentary forum. Its statement acknowledged India’s hospitality and wished the meeting success.

“The embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran also expresses its sincere appreciation to the Government of the Republic of India for its gracious hospitality and the arrangements made to host this meeting,” the statement read.

The embassy said it hoped the forum would produce constructive outcomes that strengthen cooperation and engagement among BRICS member countries.

The expression of appreciation accompanied Iran’s confirmation that its delegation would participate despite Ghalibaf’s absence. The statement did not indicate any dispute with India over the arrangements or provide any additional explanation for the speaker’s decision not to attend.

What Ghalibaf’s Absence Means for the BRICS Parliamentary Meeting

Ghalibaf’s absence means Iran will not be represented at the speaker level by its parliamentary chief at the New Delhi gathering. However, the planned participation of an Iranian delegation means the country will still have representatives available for discussions with counterparts from other BRICS members.

Parliamentary forums provide opportunities for legislators and delegations to exchange views, maintain communication and explore cooperation between participating countries. The Iranian embassy specifically highlighted parliamentary relations as an area in which it wants to deepen bilateral and multilateral engagement.

The announcement does not establish whether Ghalibaf’s absence will affect the forum’s agenda or the outcome of particular discussions. It also does not identify the circumstances that prevented him from attending.

For now, the confirmed details are that Ghalibaf will skip the meeting because of unforeseen circumstances, Iran will send a parliamentary delegation, and Tehran has reaffirmed its intention to remain actively engaged with BRICS members.

Outlook: Iran to Maintain Its Presence Through a Parliamentary Delegation

Iran’s decision to send a delegation to the 12th BRICS parliamentary speakers’ forum allows it to maintain a presence at the New Delhi meeting despite Ghalibaf’s absence. The embassy’s statement stressed continued dialogue, parliamentary cooperation and engagement with other member countries.

Tehran also thanked India for hosting the gathering and expressed hope that the discussions would strengthen cooperation within the grouping.

While the reason for Ghalibaf’s absence remains unspecified beyond the reference to unforeseen circumstances, Iran’s stated position is that its participation in BRICS activities will continue. The focus now shifts to the Iranian delegation’s involvement in the parliamentary discussions and the outcomes of the meeting.