THE Brics bloc of developing nations has condemned the recent attacks on Iran without mentioning the United States or Israel, the two nations that conducted them.

The summit’s 31-page joint declaration also hit out at the trade war launched by US President Donald Trump, again without mentioning him directly. 

In his speech, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told leaders he had pushed for every member of the United Nations to condemn Israel strongly. 

He added that Israel and the US should be held accountable for human rights violations. The aftermath of the war “will not be limited” to one country, Mr Araghchi warned, adding: “The entire region and beyond will be damaged.”

Brics leaders expressed “grave concern” for the humanitarian situation in Gaza, calling for the release of all hostages and a return to the negotiating table. They also reaffirmed their commitment to the two-state solution for Israel and Palestine.

Later, Mr Araghchi said in a separate statement on the Telegram messaging app that his government had expressed its reservation regarding a two-state solution in a note, saying it would not work “just as it has not worked in the past.”

Also on Telegram, Russia’s Foreign Ministry posted a statement condemning the “unprovoked military strikes” on Iran and naming the US and Israel as the aggressors.

The two-day summit took an indirect swipe at Washington by expressing “serious concerns” about the rise of tariffs which it said were “inconsistent with WTO [World Trade Organisation] rules.” 

The Brics nations added that the trade restrictions “threaten to reduce global trade, disrupt global supply chains and introduce uncertainty.”

In a social media post on Sunday night, Mr Trump threatened to levy an additional 10 per cent tariff on any country aligning itself with what he termed “the anti-American policies of Brics.”

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, whose country hosted the summit, criticised Nato’s decision to increase military spending by 5 per cent of GDP annually by 2035. That sentiment was later echoed in the group’s declaration.

“It is always easier to invest in war than in peace,” Lula said at the opening of the summit.

The gathering also agreed to continue progress towards developing alternatives to US-dominated payment systems. 

Brics was founded in 2009 by Brazil, Russia, India and China, with South Africa joining the following year. The group further expanded in 2024, taking in Indonesia, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia and the United Arab Emirates.

As well as the new members, the bloc has 10 strategic partner countries, a category created at last year’s summit that includes Belarus, Cuba and Vietnam.