Iran’s parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf will not attend the 12th BRICS forum in New Delhi due to “unforeseen circumstances”, the Iranian embassy in India announced on Saturday.
The embassy clarified that an Iranian parliamentary delegation would participate in the meeting in his stead.
The embassy said Ghalibaf, speaker of Iran’s Islamic Consultative Assembly, would be unable to attend the meeting of speakers of the parliaments of BRICS member countries. “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 in a statement. “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 statement read.
Iran also expressed appreciation to the Indian government for its hospitality and arrangements for hosting the meeting. The embassy wished the parliamentary forum 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. It wishes the meeting of speakers of the parliaments of BRICS member countries every success and hopes that it will yield constructive outcomes towards strengthening cooperation and engagement among member countries,” the statement read.
The 12th BRICS parliamentary forum will be held in New Delhi on October 26–27, 2026, at the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan. Saudi Arabia and Ethiopia have also been reported as not participating. It will bring together parliamentary leaders and delegations from BRICS member and partner countries. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to attend, while Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla will chair the meeting. The forum is expected to end with a joint statement highlighting areas of agreement and cooperation.
