Iran has applied to join the group of the largest emerging economies, known as BRICS, an Iranian official said on Monday.

Iran’s membership in the BRICS group (a term coined based on the initials of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) “will result in added value for both sides,” according to a Foreign Ministry spokesman of Iran.

The spokeswoman of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, said in a separate statement that Argentina had applied to join the same group of countries, but Argentinian officials did not comment immediately.

Argentine President, Alberto Fernandez, who is currently in Europe, has in recent days mentioned his desire for his country to join the BRICS group.

“At a time when the White House was contemplating what else to do with the world, Argentina and Iran applied to join the BRICS,” Zakharova wrote in the Telegram.

Russia has long sought to strengthen its ties with Asia, South America, and the Middle East, but has recently intensified its efforts to deal with the sanctions imposed on it by Europe, the US, and other countries after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Source: APA MPA

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