Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in New Delhi for a three-day official visit to attend the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, marking Tehran’s first high-level diplomatic engagement with India since the escalation of the West Asia conflict more than a month ago.Araghchi’s arrival drew global attention after he travelled aboard an aircraft named “Minab168”, a symbolic reference to the 168 girls reportedly killed in a missile strike on a school in the Iranian city of Minab during the early days of the ongoing war.Welcoming the Iranian minister, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal posted on X: “A very warm welcome to the foreign minister of Iran, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, on his arrival in New Delhi for the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.”During the visit, Araghchi is expected to hold extensive bilateral talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, with discussions likely to focus on the intensifying US-Israel-Iran conflict, regional stability, energy security and the Strait of Hormuz crisis.Strait of Hormuz crisis likely to dominate talksThe closure and security situation around the Strait of Hormuz — one of the world’s most critical oil shipping routes — is expected to be a major focus during the India-Iran discussions.Nearly 20 per cent of global oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies pass through the narrow waterway connecting the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. Rising tensions in the region have triggered fears over global energy supply disruptions and sharp increases in crude oil prices.India is expected to seek assurances regarding the safe movement of merchant vessels through the Strait, according to reports.Araghchi and other BRICS foreign ministers are also scheduled to call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the summit.Iran pushes stronger BRICS role against unilateral sanctionsIranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi, who is also attending the BRICS meet, said Iran sees BRICS as a platform to strengthen multilateral cooperation and reduce dependence on what he described as “discriminatory and unilateral mechanisms.”In a post on X, Gharibabadi said the BRICS meeting in New Delhi offers an opportunity to discuss reforms in global economic governance, financial cooperation, independent trade mechanisms and stronger ties among Global South nations.He also criticised US sanctions and termed unilateral coercive measures as “illegal” and harmful to economic development.BRICS divisions over Iran conflict remainIndia, which currently chairs BRICS, is hosting the foreign ministers’ conclave ahead of the annual BRICS Summit scheduled later this year.However, diplomatic sources indicate that member countries remain divided over the ongoing US-Israel-Iran conflict, making it difficult to arrive at a common position on the crisis.Last month, BRICS deputy foreign ministers reportedly failed to issue a joint consensus statement due to disagreements between Iran and the United Arab Emirates over alleged attacks on regional energy infrastructure.Originally formed by Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, BRICS expanded in 2024 to include Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia and the UAE, while Indonesia joined in 2025.The escalating tensions in West Asia and their impact on global oil markets are expected to dominate deliberations during the two-day BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in New Delhi.With inputs from agencies