In a photo distributed by Russian state news agency Sputnik, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, from left to right in the front row, take part in a group tour of the “Bharat Innovates” exhibition during the 18th BRICS summit in New Delhi on Sept. 12, 2026. (Credit: Kristina Solovyova/AFP)
The BRICS group of nations unanimously adopted a joint declaration Saturday expressing “deep concern” over the war in the Middle East and urging maximum restraint and a “multilateral approach” that respects national viewpoints.
The declaration, adopted on the first day of the BRICS leaders’ annual summit in New Delhi, comes as the U.S. and Iran have resumed tit-for-tat strikes against each other after a pause in fighting for much of August.
The BRICS bloc includes both Iran and U.S. ally United Arab Emirates, which was expected to make reaching consensus on a joint statement particularly challenging for host New Delhi.
“We express deep concern over the continued escalation of tensions in the Middle East ... call for exercising maximum restraint ... avoiding actions that could further aggravate the situation,” the “New Delhi Declaration” said.
The declaration also reiterated the member nations’ commitment to the peaceful resolution of international disputes “through dialogue, consultation and diplomacy.”
In addition, they voiced concern over the rise of “unilateral tariff and non-tariff measures” that distort trade, against the backdrop of U.S. sanctions on Tehran amid its war with the United States, as well as sanctions on Russia over its conflict with Ukraine.
BRICS includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates.
8 p.m. recap: Israel again threatens Beirut’s south suburbs; 2 ships hit near Hormuz; Riyadh football matches canceled