Iran Speaker to skip BRICS meet in New Delhi amid dispute over bilateral air route and medical supplies

The Embassy of Iran announced on Saturday (October 24, 2026) that Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf, Speaker of the Islamic Consultative Assembly of Iran, will not attend the upcoming BRICS Parliamentary Forum in New Delhi scheduled for October 26 and 27. According to the reported statements and official sources, the development follows disagreements regarding direct air transport for humanitarian medical supplies from India to Tehran.

An Iranian parliamentary delegation is still expected to participate in the event. The Embassy stated that Mr. Ghalibaf was unable to attend due to unforeseen circumstances, reaffirming Iran's commitment to active participation in the BRICS grouping.

Medical Supply Dispute and U.S. Sanctions Concerns

The diplomatic friction reportedly stems from challenges involving the shipment of Indian pharmaceutical products to Iran. Iran Air managing director Taher Abdolhay stated on October 19 that the airline lacked permission to fly medicines directly from India and Singapore.

• Iranian Position: Iranian officials argued that humanitarian assistance, including medicine, is exempt from international sanctions. They urged India to operationalize a direct bilateral air route between Delhi and Tehran on a priority basis. Officials noted that third-country transit routes through nations like Armenia, Oman, Turkey, or Iraq expose temperature-sensitive and perishable medications to delays, cargo transfers, and potential damage.
• Indian Official Stance: Official sources in New Delhi maintained that Indian airports and operators face risks of U.S. sanctions due to restrictions on major Iranian airlines. Officials stated that Indian pharmaceutical companies continue to supply medicines to Iran via third-country routes, such as Armenia, where consignments are transported across borders by road. Delhi emphasized that supply options remain open for Tehran to decide, while official sources also asserted that the Speaker's absence was not connected to the medicine supply bottlenecks.

Practical Implications and Verification

• Event Status: The BRICS Parliamentary Forum remains scheduled for October 26-27 in New Delhi, with an Iranian delegation attending in place of the Speaker.
• Verification: Interested observers can verify official summit proceedings through announcements by the Ministry of External Affairs of India or official diplomatic statements released by the Embassy of Iran in New Delhi.