KAZAN, Russia (Dispatches) -- Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian said here Thursday the foundations of unilateralism and the current unipolar world are crumbling. 
“Coalitionism and efforts to create constructive and friendly relations are part of today’s reality and the demand of many countries and international players to get rid of unilateralism,” he told a meeting of the BRICS+ group.
Since its formation, the group has managed to turn into a “successful” model of cooperation and convergence among the countries in the regional and international scenes thanks to its lofty goals, the president said.
Pezeshkian said a better word will be established when there is no trace of sanctions, imposition of will, aggression, war, conquests and genocide.
“A better word will be a place where multilateralism will prevail over unilateralism, the majority outweighs the minority, discrimination is replaced with equity, transparency is chosen instead of deception, democracy is preferred over authoritarianism and dialogue has put an end to war.”
Pezeshkian said illegal sanctions have destructive impacts on international relations and block access of countries to their own financial resources.
He warned that illegal sanctions will have adverse consequences on the countries’ effective role in international cooperation aimed at countering the negative effects of climate change, global warming, environmental destruction and provision of humanitarian aid.
The Iranian president urged BRICS and BRICS+ to draw up and implement a clear, fair, inclusive and non-discriminatory mechanism based on multilateral trade rules with a special focus on developing and less developed countries.
He noted that countries favoring unilateralism will continue to impede developing countries’ access to modern technologies, stressing the need to accelerate collective cooperation and share experience to counter such moves.
Contrary to all recognized principles of international law and human rights, unilateral sanctions have challenged global norms and human rights, he said. 
The president also warned that many processes of development have faced numerous challenges due to coercive measures and political prejudice, expressing regret that a sustainable movement toward a safe and developed world has been disrupted.
Pezeshkian pointed to the regional developments over the last year and the serious threat to West Asia’s peace and security, and said the Israeli regime has crossed many red lines regarding the countries’ sovereignty in violation of international regulations.
The Iranian president said international forums, particularly the United Nations Security Council, are not efficient enough to end the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon.
The unwavering support provided to the Israeli regime by the U.S. and the West has made it difficult

 to establish peace and end war in Gaza and Lebanon, he added. 
Iran officially became a member of the BRICS at the beginning of 2024, five months after it announced its acceptance as a full member of the group along with Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
BRICS was formed by and initially consisted of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, which collectively represent around 40% of the global population and a quarter of the world’s gross domestic product (GDP).
Speaking in Tehran on his return from Kazan late Thursday, Pezeshkian stated that the enactment of BRICS 2024 decisions will “gradually thwart the conspiracy of the U.S. and its allies.”
He said that “security, economic, and social issues” were central to discussions at the 16th BRICS Summit.
“BRICS seeks to counter U.S. unilateralism tied to the dollar, as it imposes sanctions at will, exacerbating global economic challenges,” he said.
A decision was made to establish a new fund in the face of the International Monetary Fund to counter U.S. unilateral actions, aiming to neutralize sanctions policies and bolster financial security in member nations’ monetary exchanges, he said.
He also referenced the summit’s 32-page final declaration, which covered a range of significant issues, including the Israeli crimes in Gaza. 
“The final statement was notably strong, condemning the killings and atrocities committed by Israel in Gaza and Lebanon,” Pezeshkian stated.
The declaration, he continued, “underscored the need for member countries to strengthen financial, economic, cultural, scientific, and security cooperation.
“I believe that if we can implement the goals of this organization and the discussions and agreements made at this meeting, the conspiracy by the United States and its allies will gradually be neutralized,” he stressed. 
The Kazan Declaration emphasized BRICS solidarity and strategic partnerships, with leaders committing to fostering peace, a fairer international order, and sustainable development.
Pezeshkian described the Islamic Republic’s participation as “an excellent opportunity for bilateral talks with various countries.” 
He also quoted UAE President Sheikh Muhammad bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who expressed a desire to visit Iran, highlighting the importance of resolving bilateral issues independently and avoiding external interference.
He touched his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, noting that both sides agreed to move forward with the implementation of Tehran-Beijing agreements and emphasized strengthening bilateral ties.
The meeting, held on the sidelines of the summit, marked Pezeshkian’s first face-to-face talks with Xi since taking office.
Pezeshkian arrived in Kazan on Tuesday night to attend the summit following an official invitation from Russian President Vladimir Putin.
During the 16th BRICS Summit, the Iranian president held discussions with the presidents of Russia, China, Egypt, South Africa, Belarus, Venezuela, Bolivia, and the UAE, as well as with the prime ministers of India and Ethiopia.