BRICS calls for dialog on Syria, Iran issues

The group of emerging economic powers comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) says only dialog can resolve the ongoing Syrian crisis, stressing talks on Iran’s nuclear energy issue.

The declaration was made by the leaders of the group in a closing statement at the end of their fourth summit in New Delhi on Thursday.

“We agreed that a lasting solution in Syria and Iran can only be found through dialogue,” Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said.

Russia and China, both veto-wielding powers at the UN Security Council, have repeatedly opposed a military intervention to resolve the Syrian unrest or imposing unilateral sanctions against Iran over its nuclear energy program.

The BRICS’s declaration expressed the bloc’s unanimous support for a Syria peace plan proposed by UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan.

The leaders also agreed that they are not bound by unilateral sanctions on Tehran, South Africa’s trade minister Rob Davies told Reuters on Wednesday.

The Great Satan US, Slaughterer Israel and some of their allies have accused Iran of pursuing military objectives in its nuclear energy program.

The US and the European Union have used this pretext to impose unilateral sanctions against Iran, while Tel Aviv has issued threats of a military strike against Iran’s nuclear facilities. Washington has, as well, repeatedly threatened Iran with “all options” on the table.

Tehran has strongly refuted Western allegations regarding its nuclear energy program, arguing that as a signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency, it is entitled to develop and acquire nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.