Iran and Argentina have applied to join BRICS, the group of emerging economies that includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, according to Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova.

“While the White House was busy thinking about what else it could shut off, ban, or ruin, Argentina and Iran applied to join BRICS,” she wrote on Telegram.

Argentinian President Alberto Fernández previously said that his countries wanted to become a full member of BRICS, while Iran’s Foreign Ministry had already reported that it applied for membership in the association.

Presidential Advisor Yuri Ushakov said on June 27 that Russia does not oppose expanding BRICS, but that “this issue needs to be approached very carefully.”

Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin took part in three meetings with other BRICS members: the BRICS Business Forum, the BRICS Summit, and BRICS Plus, which included the presidents of Argentina and Iran.
In his speeches, Putin said that the authority of BRICS on the world stage is increasing steadily each year, and that the BRICS Plus participants “stand for the establishment of a truly democratic multipolar world order.”

Argentina and Iran apply to join BRICS