Pezeshkian Calls for Overhaul of Global Governance at BRICS
NEW DELHI — Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Saturday called for a fundamental overhaul of international governance mechanisms, warning that multilateralism will lose its legitimacy if the United Nations system cannot protect human lives and national sovereignty against war, genocide and aggression.
Addressing the closed-door session of BRICS leaders in New Delhi, Pezeshkian said the theme of the 18th BRICS Summit — inclusive global governance and strengthening multilateralism — has assumed “double importance” as the world faces growing unilateralism and the weaponization of financial and technological systems.
“If the multilateral system cannot protect human lives and the sovereignty of countries against
war, genocide and aggression, how can one trust its legitimacy?” Pezeshkian asked, saying that the response could not be limited to issuing statements and that “real reform of international mechanisms” is needed.
He said the credibility of any system of governance depends on its ability to protect the rights of all countries, large and small.
“If the UN Charter cannot protect nations against the unlawful use of force, and if international rules are binding for some and open to interpretation for others, one cannot speak of genuine multilateralism,” he said.
Pezeshkian said Iran has experienced that failure directly during the U.S. and Israeli military aggression against the Islamic Republic.
“The military aggression of the United States and the Zionist regime against Iran took the lives of innocent people and damaged vital, economic and civilian infrastructure,” he said, adding that on the first day of the 40-day war, the United States and the occupying regime killed Iran’s Leader and 168 innocent children at Minab school.
He cited the attacks on the Minab school and the Lamerd sports complex as evidence of “the unilateralism, warmongering and brutality of the United States and the occupying regime,” coupled with the inaction of the United Nations and its Security Council.
“What happened in Gaza and Lebanon to civilians has also challenged the conscience of humanity,” he said.
Pezeshkian said the crisis facing multilateralism requires structural rather than rhetorical changes.
Iran, he said, regards inclusive global governance as resting on four principles: equal respect for national sovereignty and nondiscriminatory enforcement of international law; reform of global governance structures; turning multilateralism from a slogan into practical mechanisms; and serious action against unilateral sanctions.
He called for the UN Security Council and international financial institutions to reflect the changing realities of the world and the actual role of countries of the Global South.
On the economic front, he advocated greater trade in national currencies, independent payment mechanisms and a stronger role for institutions such as the New Development Bank in building what he called a more balanced global economic order.
He also called unilateral sanctions a direct attack not only on governments but on ordinary people, patients, children and national development.
Pezeshkian said BRICS should oppose the normalization of attacks against civilian and critical infrastructure and stressed that peaceful nuclear facilities must be protected from attack or threats of attack because endangering them constitutes a threat to international peace and security.
He also called the Palestinian issue another test of the credibility of global governance, saying Palestinians have the right to self-determination and security and that BRICS should play a more active role in ending occupation and safeguarding the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.
The Iranian president outlined three areas in which Tehran wants BRICS to deepen cooperation: political coordination in defense of the UN Charter and national sovereignty; economic and financial cooperation independent of monopolistic instruments; and cooperation in science, technology, energy and food security, particularly in support of the Global South.
“Cooperation is needed in the world today more than ever, but sustainable cooperation is impossible without justice,” Pezeshkian said. “Multilateralism has meaning when everyone is equal before the law, and global governance will have legitimacy when the voice of developing countries is heard.”
He also urged BRICS members to resist outside pressure and unlawful sanctions, turn areas of competition into cooperation and strengthen coordination mechanisms so that joint decisions could be implemented with greater speed and effectiveness.
“We seek a world in which power does not replace law, sanctions do not replace cooperation, war does not replace dialogue and monopoly does not replace participation,” Pezeshkian said.
The BRICS address came amid an intensive round of bilateral diplomacy by the Iranian president in New Delhi.
On Saturday, Pezeshkian met Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, telling him that Iran has no problem with its Muslim neighbors and that Washington is seeking to turn friendly and brotherly countries against one another.
“We do not seek war or the continuation of war,” Pezeshkian said. “We continue to prioritize peace and want our rights to be respected and the unjust sanctions to be lifted.”
He said the region does not need a “regional policeman” and that territorial integrity and security in West Asia could be achieved only by the region’s principal actors and countries.
Anwar, according to Iranian reports, said Malaysia seeks stronger relations with Iran and firmly supports Iran’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. He also condemned the U.S. and Israeli attacks against Iran and said the Malaysian parliament has strongly condemned the aggression.
Pezeshkian also met Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Saturday, emphasizing the need to expand economic and financial relations among BRICS countries. He said U.S. presence in the region had been “not only not a source of salvation, but a factor in bloodshed.”
Abiy praised the resistance, resilience and patriotism of the Iranian people.
Pezeshkian met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, on the eve of the summit. They discussed bilateral relations and developments in West Asia.
Modi emphasized dialogue and diplomacy, as well as the need to safeguard freedom of navigation, commerce and the safety of seafarers. The meeting was their second in less than two weeks, following their talks at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Bishkek on Aug. 31.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described the Modi-Pezeshkian meeting as “strong” and said Tehran is working toward membership in the BRICS New Development Bank, with several countries having expressed support.