Nournews: Addressing the BRICS economic summit in New Delhi on Friday, September 11, 2026, Pezeshkian said the world is on the verge of a fundamental transformation of the global economy with the rise of artificial intelligence. BRICS, he added, should not merely be a consumer of technology, but should also play a role in producing knowledge and shaping digital-economy standards, while strengthening cybersecurity for critical infrastructure.
The full text of President Pezeshkian’s speech is as follows:
In the name of God, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful
Mr. Chairman,
Distinguished Heads of State and Government,
Esteemed members of the BRICS Business Council,
Distinguished businesspeople, investors, entrepreneurs and economic stakeholders,
Ladies and gentlemen,
At the outset, I would like to sincerely thank the Government and people of friendly India for their gracious hosting of this meeting, and the esteemed Prime Minister of India for his valuable efforts to strengthen BRICS cooperation.
It is a pleasure to be here today among representatives of the private sector, businesses and entrepreneurs who can turn the idea of cooperation within BRICS into tangible economic realities.
The world today is going through one of its most complex periods. Geopolitical uncertainty, disruptions to supply chains and the growing use of economic instruments as tools of political pressure have made the environment for economic activity increasingly complicated.
The question is: What should BRICS’ response to these challenges be?
We believe that the real strength of BRICS lies not merely in the size of its members’ economies, but becomes more evident when these capacities are transformed into networks of trade, investment and joint financing — in other words, when we move from “potential cooperation” to “operational cooperation.”
Dear colleagues,
The Islamic Republic of Iran believes that economic resilience is impossible without diversifying trade partners, financing sources and payment channels.
Iran has faced extensive sanctions in recent years. However, in recent months, these pressures have entered a far more difficult and dangerous phase following the military aggression by the United States and the Israeli regime against the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Beyond its human and material costs, this aggression has once again highlighted an important reality: economic security is inseparable from national and regional security.
Whenever a country’s trade, energy, infrastructure or financial system comes under political or military pressure, the consequences extend beyond its borders, affecting regional stability and even the global economy.
Therefore, BRICS should build resilient capacities for the economies of its members and the Global South, creating an environment in which no country can disrupt another country’s legitimate trade by monopolizing a financial or technological instrument.
To increase intra-BRICS trade, we must move from fragmented cooperation toward the gradual integration of trade infrastructure.
In this regard, several measures are of particular importance, including the digitalization and integration of customs procedures and trade facilitation; reducing regulatory and administrative barriers; developing cross-border markets; and facilitating joint private-sector investment.
We also propose strengthening cooperation on standardization so that BRICS can move beyond being a marketplace for the exchange of raw materials and evolve into a network of value chains and joint industrial production.
Food and energy security are two fundamental pillars of economic security. With its vast energy reserves and strategically important geographic position, the Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to play the role of a strategic partner in BRICS energy, food and transportation supply chains.
Distinguished guests,
One of the most important steps is to expand the use of national currencies in trade among BRICS members. This step should be accompanied by the development of mechanisms for managing currency risks and facilitating mutual settlements, as the current financial system is vulnerable to political shocks because of its concentration around a limited number of currencies.
To turn trade cooperation into real investment, the New Development Bank should become the main engine for financing infrastructure and energy projects in member states by providing dedicated credit lines, financing in local currencies and guarantee mechanisms to attract private investment.
Dear colleagues,
Another specific proposal by the Islamic Republic of Iran is the establishment of a joint BRICS reinsurance company with initial capital of $10 billion, aimed at covering the risks associated with major infrastructure and energy projects and increasing private-sector confidence.
We are also on the threshold of a fundamental transformation of the global economy with the emergence of artificial intelligence.
BRICS should not merely be a consumer of technology. It should also play a role in knowledge production and in shaping digital-economy standards, while strengthening cybersecurity for critical infrastructure.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The BRICS Business Council should evolve from a forum for dialogue into an executive engine for economic cooperation.
Its specialized working groups should define concrete and measurable projects based on clear indicators, including the growth of intra-BRICS trade, the share of national currencies in trade and the volume of private capital attracted.
The Islamic Republic of Iran, with its strategic geographic position and energy resources, is ready to become one of the key links in BRICS’ economic connectivity.
We believe BRICS will become a genuine force in the global economy when our cooperation can be seen in contracts, factories, ports and the economic lives of the people of member states.
The Islamic Republic of Iran stands ready, alongside all BRICS members, to work toward building a more open, resilient and equitable economy.
Thank you for your attention.
