New Delhi

Sergey Lavrov on Friday suggested that India could potentially play a long-term mediating role in tensions involving Iran and the United States, citing India’s diplomatic experience and its current leadership role in BRICS.

Speaking in New Delhi after the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ meeting, Lavrov said Pakistan was helping facilitate immediate dialogue between Washington and Tehran on urgent issues, but argued that India could be better placed for broader, long-term diplomatic engagement in the region.

He noted that India, as BRICS chair and a major energy importer with strong stakes in West Asian stability, could help bring regional stakeholders together for dialogue. Lavrov also alleged that some countries were trying to deepen hostility between Iran and Arab nations, while saying Moscow was working toward de-escalation and diplomacy.

The remarks come as New Delhi hosts the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting amid rising tensions in West Asia, disruption of oil supplies through the Strait of Hormuz, and growing global concern over energy security.

Lavrov’s comments also followed his meetings with Narendra Modi and S. Jaishankar in New Delhi, where regional security, trade cooperation, and geopolitical developments were discussed.

At the same BRICS gathering, Abbas Araghchi called for reform of global governance institutions and urged stronger international condemnation of attacks on civilians and infrastructure in Iran.

READ MORE: Naima Khatoon, AMU's first woman VC is injecting dynamism in varsity's culture

So, diplomatically, Lavrov’s statement appears aimed at positioning India not just as an energy stakeholder, but as a potential “bridge-builder” in West Asia at a time of heightened regional instability.