BRICS Members Eager to Expand Economic Cooperation

TEHRAN (Iran News) Speaking upon his return to Tehran from a multi-nation Latin American tour that included Venezuela, Cuba, and Brazil, Qalibaf emphasized that during the recent BRICS Parliamentary Forum, the heads of legislative bodies expressed united stances against U.S. unilateralism and voiced strong interest in enhancing mutual economic ties.

According to the public relations office of Majlis, Qalibaf arrived at Tehran’s Mehrabad Airport on Friday, following a diplomatic mission that began the previous Saturday and culminated in Brazil.

Reflecting on the first leg of the trip, Qalibaf highlighted productive discussions with senior Venezuelan officials, including the president, foreign minister, and transport minister, who also chairs the countries’ joint economic commission.

He described the bilateral talks as a positive step forward for political and economic relations, noting the potential for expanded cooperation in sectors such as energy, agriculture, and technology. A key focus was an agreement on customs tariff liberalization, which is expected to be finalized in the coming months.

In addition to formal meetings, he also engaged with religious leaders, academics, and students, with discussions centering on U.S. foreign policy and the crisis in Gaza. He also visited a permanent exhibition of Iranian knowledge-based companies in Caracas, calling it a promising sign of growing bilateral scientific and industrial ties.

In Havana, Qalibaf praised Cuba as a nation of independence and resistance, acknowledging its long-standing challenges under economic sanctions. Meetings with Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel and parliamentary leaders underscored the potential for collaboration in agriculture and energy, particularly within the country’s refinery infrastructure.

One notable development during the visit was the presentation of four Iranian nuclear medicine kits to the Cuban president, symbolizing Tehran’s intent to expand cooperation in the medical and pharmaceutical sectors.

The final leg of Qalibaf’s trip took him to Brasília, where he participated in the 11th BRICS Parliamentary Forum. He described the bloc—comprising nearly half the world’s population and a significant share of global trade and GDP—as a vital platform for Iran’s regional and international diplomacy.

Qalibaf underscored the consensus among BRICS parliament heads against U.S. unilateralism and their mutual commitment to deepening economic relations. He also met with Brazilian Senate and House leaders to discuss trade imbalances. While bilateral trade volume stands at €8 billion, only €1 billion accounts for Iranian exports, which he said could be improved by leveraging Iran’s capacity in agriculture and petrochemicals.

Qalibaf also noted that the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum will be held in New Delhi in 2026. During a meeting with the Speaker of India’s Parliament, the two sides discussed accelerating the implementation of agreements and addressing development delays in key projects such as Iran’s Chabahar port.

The Iranian Embassy in Brazil also hosted a cultural event to commemorate the 36th anniversary of the passing of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, attended by diplomats, academics, and students. Qalibaf thanked the embassy for organizing the tribute.

He concluded that despite the tight schedule, the trip yielded substantial results in parliamentary diplomacy and economic engagement. He emphasized that active parliamentary diplomacy is essential for advancing Iran’s foreign policy and public diplomacy goals.

He was accompanied by a high-level delegation including Ahmad Naderi, head of the Iran-Brazil parliamentary friendship group; Maryam Abdollahi, its deputy chair; Mostafa Taheri, chair of the parliamentary AI caucus; Gholamreza Tajgardoon, chair of the Budget and Planning Commission; Salar Velayatmadar and Jalil Mokhtar, heads of the Venezuela and Cuba friendship groups respectively; and Mohammad Rashidi from the Agriculture Commission.