For Iran, this matters because it is gambling that the group, made up of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, will shift the global balance of power. Iran has long believed a multi-polar world will emerge that will challenge the US-led world order that emerged in the 1990s. Iran sees BRICS as part of the new world order.
The Iranian agenda can be seen in a recent long article at Fars News, a pro-regime outlet that tends to parrot the regime’s long-term strategy and agenda.
What do we know about the BRICS expansion?
During a recent meeting in South Africa, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa invited the leaders of 67 countries to the summit. BRICS also announced its expansion to include Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Membership for them begins in January 2024.
It's impossible not to see that BRICS is now becoming more heavily tied to the Middle East. This matters because China is a key player and it wants to see more ties to the region. China also has used the SCO to reach out to the Middle East. Iran wants to be fully integrated into this new setup, positioning itself with China and Russia. READ MORE
