Iran's Symbolic ‘Minab168’ Aircraft Brings Araghchi to India for BRICS Meet
Iran had invoked the Minab attack while congratulating White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on the birth of her daughter as well
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi arrived in New Delhi late Wednesday, for a two-day gathering of BRICS foreign ministers. The meet is hosted by India as the BRICS chair this year, ahead of the bloc’s annual summit later this year. The two-day talks, scheduled for today and tomorrow, will be chaired by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.
Araghchi landed in New Delhi aboard an Iranian aircraft named "Minab168", a reference to the 168 girls killed in a US missile strike on a school during the US-Israel war on Iran. Iran had invoked the Minab attack while congratulating White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on the birth of her daughter as well, saying that “Children are innocent and lovable. Those 168 children that your boss killed in the school in Minab, and you justified, were also children. When you kiss your baby, think of the mothers of those children."
The reminder of the Minab strike via the aircraft comes at the occasion when foreign ministers and senior delegations from BRICS member and partner countries are expected to attend the gathering, which includes Iran and the United Arab Emirates -- countries at odds over the conflict.
India welcomed Araghchi on his arrival. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal posted on X: "A very warm welcome to Foreign Minister of Iran, Syed Abbas Araghchi, on his arrival in New Delhi for the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting."
India's foreign ministry said talks will focus on "global and regional issues of mutual interest", spokesman Randhir Jaiswal told reporters.
BRICS was created in 2009 as a forum for major emerging economies seeking greater influence in institutions dominated by Western powers.
The grouping, originally comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, has since expanded, as members sought to boost the bloc's global political and economic influence.
It now includes Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates, although it remains unclear whether representatives from all member states will attend.
