BRICS Summit 2026 Highlights: PM Modi, Iranian President Pezeshkian discuss bilateral ties, West Asia tensions

Vice President C P Radhakrishnan on Friday expressed delight at Prime Minister Narendra Modi gifting a Tamil classic to Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying India's rich heritage is crossing borders and languages.

Modi presented the Russian translation of the Thirukkural, a Tamil classic and timeless work of wisdom, to Putin on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit.

Radhakrishnan said the gift is a beautiful celebration of "our" enduring civilisational heritage.

"The universal wisdom of Thiruvalluvar continues to transcend languages, cultures and borders, carrying the timeless message of Bharat to the world," the vice president said in a social media post.

The vice president hails from Tamil Nadu.

— PTI

Delhi Police announced traffic restrictions and diversions on several key routes in central Delhi ahead of the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit at Bharat Mandapam.

The restrictions will be in place on Saturday, September 12, from 8:15 pm to 11 pm, as part of security arrangements for the movement of heads of state and other international dignitaries.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has presented the Russian edition of the Thirukkural, a famous ancient Tamil book written by poet-philosopher Thiruvalluvar, to President Vladimir Putin. The literary gift came as Modi met the Russian President in New Delhi for bilateral talks on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit.

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Évariste Ndayishimiye, President of the Republic of Burundi, reached Delhi to attend the BRICS Summit 2026.

As dignitaries from more than 10 nations arrived in India to attend the BRICS summit 2026, Brazilian Foreign Affairs Minister Mauro Vieira on Friday hailed India’s chairship for the summit, saying that it is an “excellent presidency” with “very productive” things happening at the platform.

"Excellent presidency, very productive. We are very happy with this," the Brazilian FM said.

The Brazilian FM hailed BRICS as a platform for consolidating and connecting some of the world’s most dynamic and prosperous economies, saying it has become even more crucial when the world is threatened by ‘protectionism, economic coercion and unilateral sanctions’.

“With its recent expansion, BRICS has consolidated itself as a platform for connecting some of the world's most dynamic and prosperous economies. At a time when the global economy is threatened by protectionism, economic coercion and unilateral sanctions, bringing our productive sectors closer together is more relevant than ever," the Brazilian FM said while addressing the Leaders' Session of BRICS Business Forum in New Delhi.

— ANI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in New Delhi on Friday, marking their second meeting in less than two weeks, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.

The two leaders reviewed various aspects of India-Iran bilateral relations. Modi thanked Iran for its continued high-level participation in BRICS-related meetings despite the challenging circumstances. He highlighted the grouping’s potential to promote resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability among countries of the Global South.

PM Modi also thanked Pezeshkian for participating in the Leaders’ Session of the BRICS Business Forum, the MEA said.

The leaders also discussed recent developments in West Asia. Modi reiterated India’s consistent position that all issues should be addressed through dialogue and diplomacy. He stressed the need for continued efforts towards lasting peace and stability in the region, including ensuring freedom of navigation and commerce as well as the safety and well-being of seafarers, the MEA said.

PM Narendra Modi's bilateral meeting with United Nations Secretary-General (UNSG) António Guterres has concluded.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday urged the BRICS Business Council to prepare a report identifying the top 10 trade barriers among BRICS nations and called for supporting 100 BRICS startups annually to expand into other member markets.

Addressing the Leaders' Session of the BRICS Business Forum in New Delhi, PM Modi also called for forging 1,000 new partnerships among businesses across BRICS nations and suggested that progress on these three parameters should be reviewed every year.

"As BRICS enters its third decade, I would like to urge the BRICS Business Council: Can you prepare a report on removing the top ten trade barriers among BRICS nations? Can we support 100 BRICS startups annually to scale up in other BRICS markets? Can we forge a thousand new partnerships among our businesses?" PM Modi said.

"We should review our progress on these three parameters every year. Let us transform BRICS' ambitions into action and our collective strength into global solutions. Let BRICS move forward and propel the world forward as well," he added.

— ANI

The next bilateral meeting is with United Nations Secretary-General (UNSG) António Guterres.

PM Modi and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian's bilateral meeting has ended.

"India and Iran share civilizational ties, marked by robust cultural and people-to-people bonds. As BRICS partners, the two countries are working to contribute to shared progress and prosperity," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on social media

PM Modi and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian's bilateral meeting has begun.

At Leaders' Session of BRICS Business Forum, Russian President Vladimir Putin said, “...Sometimes competition is taking some ugly forms. This ugly form is something we see even at the State level, at the Govt level. Sometimes the measures resorted to are of physical nature, when pipelines are being destroyed, when attempts are undertaken to block international transport corridors to seize maritime vessels, illegal restrictions are applied and there is also the threat of so-called secondary sanctions against those who do not want to follow someone else's interest and rather look after their own...”

As per DD News, Putin added, "More than 30,000 sanctions have been slapped on Russia which is twice as much as the number of all sanctions against all other countries of the world combined...Against this difficult backdrop, Russia has been working actively and Russia has managed to achieve great success. We have reinforced our national sovereignty, we are developing ties with reliable, predictable partners...During the last 3 years, the economic growth in Russia has been superior to the world average..."

Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi HH Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has arrived in India to attend BRICS Summit.

MEA said, “The visit will be an opportunity to further strengthen India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership centred on robust trade and energy security for shared prosperity.”

While speaking at the BRICS Business Forum, PM Modi said, “As BRICS enters its third decade, I would like to urge the BRICS Business Council: Can you prepare a report on removing the top ten trade barriers among BRICS nations? Can we support 100 BRICS startups annually to scale up in other BRICS markets? Can we forge a thousand new partnerships among our businesses? We should review our progress on these three parameters every year.”

He added, "Let us transform BRICS' ambitions into action and our collective strength into global solutions. Let BRICS move forward and propel the world forward as well."

PM Modi, at the BRICS Business Forum, said, “Global trade can move forward only when sea lanes are secure, supply routes remain open and seafarers are safe. That is why India is a steadfast advocate of freedom of navigation and the safety of seafarers."

While speaking at the BRICS Business Forum, Putin blamed Western countries for attempting to “interfere with logistics” and “destroy infrastructure and seize vessels".

While speaking at the BRICS Business Forum, Russian President Putin said, ‘World is undergoing deep structural and profound shifts’.