India Welcomes US-Iran Memorandum With Cautious Optimism at BRICS Meeting in New Delhi

India's national security adviser Ajit Doval said on Tuesday that New Delhi welcomes the memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran with "cautious optimism". He said the deal could help energy security and described the opening of the Strait of Hormuz as a welcome development. The remarks were made at the 16th BRICS national security advisers' meeting in New Delhi, where representatives from China, Russia and Iran were also present.

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Doval said India hoped the memorandum would work, adding that it could support energy security at a time of wider geopolitical uncertainty. He referred to BRICS as a "very special coalition" and said its member and partner economies had an important role to play in the world. Among those attending the meeting were Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Russian Security Council Secretary Sergey Shoigu and Iran's Deputy Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Ghadir Nezamipour.

The comments come against a backdrop of tensions in global security and trade routes, with the Strait of Hormuz remaining one of the world's most sensitive maritime chokepoints. Any easing of pressure around the waterway is closely watched by countries that depend on stable energy flows. Doval's remarks suggest India sees potential value in any diplomatic step that could reduce risks to shipping and energy supplies.

He also used the meeting to argue that the world is facing military conflicts, economic strains and disruptive technology, while multilateral mechanisms are struggling to keep pace. Doval said the original purpose of BRICS was to give emerging economies a platform for economic cooperation, strengthen the voice of the Global South and support reforms in global governance. His comments placed the US-Iran memorandum within a broader discussion about how major groupings respond to instability.

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The meeting in New Delhi brought together officials from across the bloc at a time when BRICS is seeking to present itself as a forum for cooperation among diverse economies. Doval said the grouping believes in peace, progress, development and cooperation, and said it was gaining strength. The presence of senior representatives from China, Russia and Iran underlined the diplomatic weight of the gathering.

It remains unclear how the US-Iran memorandum will be implemented and what practical effect it will have on the Strait of Hormuz or wider energy markets. Doval's remarks were supportive but cautious, and he did not set out any direct Indian role in the arrangement. The next developments will depend on whether the agreement holds and whether it produces measurable changes in regional security and energy access.

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