Iran willing to join BRICS

Iranian Deputy Economy Minister Behrouz Alishiri announced Tehran's enthusiasm for membership in the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) group of countries. Alishiri made the remarks in a meeting with his Brazilian counterpart on the sidelines of the 2013 Annual Meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington, the US. "Iran supports the BRICS group and is prepared for membership and presence in BRICS's fund," he said. Iran and the BRICS countries have established good relations in recent years. The fifth summit of the Group of BRICS countries in its March summit in Durban, South Africa, lashed out at the US-led West for its hostile and unilateral policies against Iran, and called on the western powers to try talks with Tehran over the latter's nuclear program. "We are concerned about threats of military action as well as unilateral sanctions, and hope that all outstanding issues relating to Iran's nuclear program will be resolved through discussions and diplomatic means," BRICS leaders said in a declaration issued at the end of their two-day summit. "We believe there is no alternative to a negotiated solution to the Iranian nuclear issue, and recognize Iran's right to peaceful uses of nuclear energy consistent with its international obligations," they added.