TEHRAN– Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, along with a delegation, is set to attend the 16th BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, later this year.

The participation comes in response to an official invitation extended by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In preparation for the summit, Davoud Mirzakhani, Iran's Consul General in Kazan, held a meeting with Bakirov Gazinur, Assistant to the President of Tatarstan. 

The two officials discussed the state of bilateral relations between Iran and Russia and coordinated details for the upcoming BRICS summit.

The 16th BRICS summit, scheduled for October 22–24, 2024, will see global leaders, including President Pezeshkian, gathering in Kazan to discuss economic cooperation, global development, and other critical issues. 

Dmitry Peskov, the press secretary for President Putin, confirmed that the invitation was officially extended to President Pezeshkian, signaling Iran's ongoing engagement with the BRICS nations and its interest in further strengthening ties within this influential international forum.

The BRICS group, comprised of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, established in 2009, has emerged as a significant force shaping global economic discussions.

The founding countries of Brazil, Russia, India, and China held the first summit in Yekaterinburg in 2009, with South Africa joining the bloc a year later.[3][4] Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates joined the organization on 1 January 2024.

Combined, the BRICS members encompass about 30% of the world's land surface and 45% of the global population. South Africa has the largest economy in Africa whereas Brazil, Russia, India, and China are among the world's ten largest countries by population, area, and gross domestic product (GDP) nominal and by purchasing power parity.

Russia took over the BRICS’ year-long presidency on Jan. 1, 2024.