Iran joins Russia, China at BRICS conference calling for a halt to escalation in Middle East

The Iranian regime signed onto a joint statement from a group including Russia and China Saturday urging a halt to the “escalation” of war in the Middle East.The joint statement came at a meeting of BRICS nations – Brazil, Russia, India, China, Iran and others – formed as a counterweight to US-influenced institutions – in New Delhi hosted by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“We express deep concern over the continued escalation of tensions in Middle East/West ​Asia … call for exercising maximum restraint, as well as avoiding actions that could further aggravate the situation,” the joint statement read.It follows a recent escalation of Iranian attacks on US bases and allies in the Gulf region.Among the 11 BRICS members signing on was the United Arab Emirates, which houses a US air base and has suffered Iranian drone and missile attacks — and Saudi Arabia, which shut down its East-West pipeline Friday after attacks from Iran-backed Iraqi militias set it on fire with strikes.The Saturday conference came as the US cranks up economic pressure on Iran, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent vowing an “economic D-Day” last month to cripple trading partners with the Islamic Republic.The statement also called to protect civilians, respect state sovereignty, and spoke of protecting global supply chains – even as the US and Tehran clash over the Strait of Hormuz, choking a crucial artery for global energy trade.Irani’s President Masoud Pezeshkian, who attended the conference, hit back at the US in comments from New Delhi on Friday saying: “They want to bully us, and we do not want to be bullied.”The joint statement also raised “serious concerns” about rising global tariffs.The conference came a day after Russian strongman Vladimir Putin, who has continued to pound Ukraine with daily drone and missile attacks, mocked the G7 group of economic powerhouses – which kicked Russia out following its annexation of Crimea in 2014.“Over the la...