BRICS Fractures as India Avoids Condemning US-Israeli Strikes on Iran

The BRICS alliance failed to reach a collective official position regarding Operation Epic Fury and Operation Roaring Lion, joint military campaigns by the United States and Israel against Iran. The strikes, which began on February 28, targeted sites in Tehran and resulted in over 1,230 deaths, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and senior commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

While BRICS members Russia, China, and South Africa issued independent condemnations, Narendra Modi and the Indian government avoided explicitly denouncing the attacks. India, serving as the current bloc chair, called for an early end to the conflict through diplomacy but stopped short of condemning the allies. This caution follows Modi's February 2026 visit to Israel, where he established a Special Strategic Partnership and affirmed India's support for Israel.

In response to the escalation, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian rejected international mediation efforts that sought to scale back Iranian actions, arguing that mediators should instead focus on the United States and Israel. Meanwhile, Russia and China warned that the military operations could trigger regional nuclear proliferation. The conflict has sparked global economic alarm, with warnings that oil prices could reach $150 a barrel as Iran continues retaliatory strikes against Israeli territory and U.S. military bases.