NEW DELHI: Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov on Friday suggested that India could play a larger long-term diplomatic role in mediating the ongoing tensions involving the US and Iran, while indicating that Pakistan was currently helping facilitate immediate dialogue between the two sides.
Addressing a media briefing after the BRICS Foreign Ministers' meeting in New Delhi, Lavrov highlighted India’s diplomatic experience and growing global standing amid rising concerns over instability in West Asia and disruptions to global energy supplies.
"Pakistan is helping establish dialogues between the US and Iran to resolve urgent problems. If they seek a long-term mediator between Iran and its Arab friends, this role could be played by India, considering its vast diplomatic experience," he said.
Lavrov's remarks came at a time when India is actively engaging with Gulf nations amid fears of a prolonged regional conflict, rising crude oil prices and disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy shipping route crucial for Indian imports.
The Russian foreign minister also highlighted India's direct stake in ensuring stability in the region, particularly as the current BRICS chair and one of the world's largest energy consumers.
Referring to India's possible diplomatic role, Lavrov said, "India, the BRICS president, is directly interested in receiving oil from this region. Why won't they offer their services, including as a country that is currently presiding over BRICS, so they could invite Iran, the United Arab Emirates, to start with, to have a conversation with each other to agree on how they can avoid any hostilities between the two countries?"
During the briefing, Lavrov stressed that BRICS as an organisation should not formally act as a mediator, but said individual member states could play constructive diplomatic roles in reducing tensions.
"The most important thing is to put an end to this. I don't think BRICS should be the kind of organisation to mediate, but individual BRICS members, especially those who are interested to ensure there are no problems with the navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, could help," he said through a translator.
Without naming any nation, Lavrov also accused certain countries of attempting to deepen hostility between Iran and Arab nations, while claiming Russia was pursuing efforts aimed at reducing tensions and encouraging dialogue.
"And they are trying; other countries are trying to instil this aggression, to instil this hostility in these relations. I believe that this hostility, this aggression against Iran, was motivated, among other things, to antagonise Iran and its Arab neighbours," he said.
"We need to understand root causes of every conflict, here it is unprovoked aggression by US and Israel," Lavrov added.
The comments came as Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the UAE during a five-nation tour focused on strengthening India's strategic, energy and economic ties with Gulf and European countries.
Lavrov also confirmed that PM Modi would visit Russia later this year for the upcoming BRICS summit, saying preparations for the high-level meeting were already underway.
"We are preparing for the BRICS summit. Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday reaffirmed that this year it's his turn to make a visit to the Russian Federation. We will be preparing for this top-level summit," Lavrov said.
Highlighting the broader India-Russia partnership, the Russian foreign minister said cooperation between the two countries continued to expand across multiple sectors, including energy, trade and financial transactions.
"Our settlements with India were going away from dollars to using national currencies and the currencies of other countries that do not abuse their position in the global financial institutions," he said.
Lavrov’s remarks also renewed focus on India’s longstanding history of diplomatic mediation and peacekeeping efforts, including its role in the Korean armistice, the Suez crisis, the Iran-Iraq war and various United Nations-led initiatives.
India has increasingly projected itself as a neutral global player advocating dialogue and peaceful conflict resolution under its broader 'Vishwa Bandhu' foreign policy approach.
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