Just like the speech, the chair of the speaker speaks volumes. Two days before the BRICS Parliamentary Forum hosted by India, one of the most-watched chairs will remain empty.
The Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, Mohammad-Baqer Ghalibaf, will not participate in the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum set to take place in the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan, New Delhi, on October 26 and 27.
The information was released on October 24, Saturday, by the Iranian Embassy in New Delhi.
The explanation provided by the embassy was short. According to the statement, Ghalibaf could not be present because of "unforeseen circumstances." No additional information is provided by the embassy, and the news sources analyzed do not specify what circumstances these are. In addition, no Iranian official has come out with an explanation of why Ghalibaf will not be there.
The embassy wanted to emphasize Iran's commitment to the forum. "Iran, as one of the member countries of BRICS, reaffirms its commitment to active and effective participation at the highest levels," the embassy stated.
At the same time, it conveyed some greetings from Iran to the forum participants.
Of course, Iran will not be completely absent from this forum. A delegation of the Iranian parliament will represent the country at the forum. This information is clearly stated in the embassy’s press release.
It is not known who will head the delegation and who will speak on behalf of Iran at the speaker’s session.
In addition, the embassy thanked India for organizing the forum.
The timing is too obvious to be ignored. Bernama has tied the move to the overall climate in the region, noting that Ghalibaf's absence comes at a time when tensions are high in West Asia.
Iran has threatened a military retaliation against any new attack on its soil by the Americans and Israelis.
Major General Ali Abdollahi, chief of the armed forces in Iran, noted that Iran will not allow US warships into the Persian Gulf, according to Press TV.
No reviewed source connects the speaker's decision to the tension. It is a link that journalists have drawn on the basis of the timing.
Iran has not been a part of the group for too long. During the 10th BRICS Parliamentarians’ Forum, held in St. Petersburg, Russia, in July 2024, Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomed Mr. Ghalibaf, saying that Iran is starting to act as a full-fledged member of the grouping.
This means that the gathering in Delhi is quite an important occasion. This is a rare opportunity for Iran to interact with representatives of economically developed countries without the stress of the battlefield or the negotiation table.
Hosting the gathering by India creates yet another dimension. India enjoys good relations with Iran and also shares close ties with the US.
Iran is not alone in staying away. Saudi Arabia and Ethiopia have chosen to stay away from the forum too. The Week did not provide the reason for their absence in the selected excerpt.
In sum, these absences highlight the challenges that arise in bringing people together. The BRICS bloc has expanded, and having more members entails more disagreements to deal with.
The forum will be a two-day event. The delegates will have the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum on October 26 and 27. The agenda was not provided in any of the reports examined.
Look out for three things. One, who heads Iran's delegation. Two, whether Iranian parliamentarians will take advantage of the opportunity to criticize the United States and Israel. Three, whether Indian hosts would manage to shift focus towards commerce and cooperation.
