Iran Speaker Skips BRICS Meet Amid India Air Route Dispute
· World · The Hindu
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf will not attend the BRICS Parliamentary Forum meeting in New Delhi on October 26 and 27, Iran's Embassy announced. This decision follows India's refusal to allow Iran Air to transport medicines directly to Tehran, citing fears of U.S. sanctions. India suggested using a third country like Armenia for medical consignments to avoid sanctions on Indian airports and air operators. Iranian officials argue that humanitarian aid is exempt from international sanctions and requested India operationalise a bilateral air route. They also claimed that temperature-sensitive medication became unusable when transported via third countries.
Why it matters
This dispute impacts the delivery of essential medicines to Iran and highlights the challenges of U.S. sanctions on humanitarian aid. It also affects diplomatic engagement between India and Iran, both BRICS member countries.
Read the original report — The Hindu
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