Unilateral sanctions impacting food security, people’s welfare: Pezeshkian

1. At a Glance

• Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, at the 18th BRICS Summit (New Delhi, September 2026), criticised unilateral sanctions as directly harming global food security and people's welfare [1].
• He pushed BRICS toward trade in national currencies and a stronger New Development Bank (NDB), framing this as reducing emerging-economy vulnerability to Western-dominated financial systems [1].
• Relevant for UPSC as it links India's foreign policy hosting role, BRICS institutional evolution, and Global South critique of unilateral coercive measures — a recurring GS-II/GS-III theme.

2. Why in the News

• Pezeshkian spoke at the concluding session of the two-day BRICS Summit in New Delhi (hosted by PM Narendra Modi), themed "Resilience, Cooperation and Sustainability" [1].
• His remarks came weeks after fresh US sanctions on Iran, amid ongoing military hostilities between the US/Israel and Iran [1].
• He also referenced continuing consequences of conflict for people of Gaza and Lebanon [1].

3. Background & Evolution

• BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) expanded to include Iran as a member from 2024, admitted at the Kazan Summit (Russia) [2].
• Pezeshkian first addressed BRICS as Iran's president at the Kazan Summit, Russia (Oct 22–24, 2024), proposing five cooperation measures [2].
• BRICS' criticism of unilateral coercive measures is institutionalised: the Rio de Janeiro Declaration (2025 Summit, Brazil) explicitly condemned unilateral economic/secondary sanctions for harming rights to development, health, and food security in targeted states [3].
• New Development Bank (NDB), headquartered in Shanghai, was set up as a core BRICS financial institution alongside the Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA) — a multilateral currency swap mechanism among BRICS central banks [3].

4. Core Static Facts

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

• Economic: Push for de-dollarisation via national-currency trade settlement; reduces exposure to sanctions-driven financial shocks for emerging economies [1].
• Geopolitical/Strategic: Reflects Iran-US tensions post fresh sanctions; situates India as a summit host balancing ties with Iran, US, and Israel [1].
• Social/Humanitarian: Sanctions' spillover onto food security and civilian welfare — framed as a rights issue affecting the general population of targeted states, not just regimes [3].
• Legal/International Law: BRICS bloc's stance treats "unilateral coercive measures" as contrary to international law, an argument distinct from UN Security Council-mandated multilateral sanctions [3].
• Institutional/Governance: Debate over strengthening NDB and CRA reflects BRICS' attempt to build parallel financial architecture to IMF/World Bank [3].

6. Recent Developments (last 12–18 months)

• 2025: Rio de Janeiro BRICS Declaration formally condemns unilateral coercive measures and their food-security/human-rights impact [3].
• 2026 (weeks before Sept summit): US imposes fresh economic sanctions on Iran amid ongoing military hostilities [1].
• September 13–14, 2026: 18th BRICS Summit held in New Delhi; Pezeshkian's concluding-session address links sanctions to food security, references Gaza/Lebanon, and calls for NDB strengthening [1][4].

7. Prelims Hooks

• BRICS = Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa (+ expanded members including Iran since 2024).
• Iran became a full BRICS member at the Kazan Summit, Russia, October 2024.
• New Development Bank (NDB) headquartered in Shanghai.
• Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA) = BRICS multilateral currency swap mechanism among central banks.
• 18th BRICS Summit theme: "Resilience, Cooperation and Sustainability."
• 18th BRICS Summit host (2026): India, hosted by PM Narendra Modi in New Delhi.
• Rio de Janeiro Declaration (2025 BRICS Summit) condemned unilateral coercive measures for harming food security/human rights.
• Iran proposed a $10 billion BRICS joint reinsurance mechanism to cut reliance on Western insurers.
• Pezeshkian's September 2026 remarks followed fresh US sanctions on Iran amid ongoing India-hosted summit.

8. Mains Relevance

• GS-II: International Relations — India's bilateral/multilateral groupings (BRICS); effect of policies/politics of developed & developing countries on India's interests.
• GS-III: Effects of liberalization on the economy; international financial institutions and their impact.
• Possible question stems: 1. Discuss how unilateral sanctions by major powers affect global food security in targeted and third countries. Illustrate with recent examples. (GS-II/III) 2. Evaluate the role of the New Development Bank in providing an alternative financial architecture to Bretton Woods institutions for BRICS nations. (GS-II) 3. India's position as a bridge between the West and sanctioned states like Iran — assess with reference to BRICS diplomacy. (GS-II)

9. Related Topics to Study Next

• New Development Bank (NDB) & Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA) — core BRICS financial institutions, frequently tested.
• De-dollarisation and local-currency trade settlement — recurring BRICS/G20 theme.
• UN Charter provisions on sanctions (Ch. VII) vs. unilateral coercive measures — legal distinction often confused.
• India-Iran relations (Chabahar Port, INSTC) — bilateral angle relevant to sanctions discourse.
• BRICS expansion (2024 Kazan, new members) — institutional evolution.
• Israel-Iran-US hostilities 2025-26 — geopolitical backdrop to sanctions.
• Global food security frameworks (FAO, WFP) — humanitarian dimension.

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

• Confusing UN Security Council sanctions (multilateral, Chapter VII) with unilateral sanctions (imposed by individual states like the US) — BRICS criticises only the latter.
• Assuming NDB is headquartered in India — it is in Shanghai, not New Delhi.
• Mixing up the Kazan Summit (2024, Russia) — where Iran joined BRICS — with the 2026 New Delhi Summit where these remarks were made.
• Assuming BRICS unanimously drafted binding sanctions language — declarations are political statements, not legally binding instruments.