Putin, Xi and Iran's Pezeshkian descend on India for high-stakes BRICS summit amid escalating global tensions

All eyes will be on New Delhi this weekend, as the presidents of Iran, Russia and China gather in India for the 18th BRICS summit.

The meeting comes at a critical time as conflicts roil the Middle East and Europe, putting the bloc to one of its biggest tests since its founding 20 years ago.

The Sept.

12-13 summit comes more than six months after the Middle East war broke out between the U.S. and Iran, and at a time when regional tensions are again spiking.

It follows the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit earlier this month, where several of the same leaders met.

The BRICS alliance was established in 2006 by founding members Brazil, Russia, India and China, and has since expanded to include nations such as Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

INDIA'S MODI-IRAN MEETING COMES AMID US WARNINGS OF SANCTIONS ON TEHRAN'S TRADING PARTNERS At the forefront are Iran-India relations, with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Prime Minister Narendra Modi likely to highlight trade, connectivity, energy cooperation and regional developments.

The two leaders are meeting less than two weeks after reaffirming their "longstanding" strategic partnership.

In the face of an economic onslaught from Washington, Tehran has been working to deepen ties with Moscow and Beijing.

In its latest attempt at securing a critical economic lifeline, Iran is seeking membership in the BRICS New Development Bank.

The effort comes as many of Iran's largest remaining economic partners, including China, India, Russia and the UAE, will all be represented in New Delhi, giving Tehran a rare opportunity to engage several key trading partners collectively, just as the U.S. ramps up sanctions pressure.

CHINA, RUSSIA, IRAN AND NORTH KOREA FORM 'AXIS OF AGGRESSORS' THAT COULD OVERWHELM US, BOOK WARNS Also in focus is China.

President Xi Jinping will be visiting India for the first time in seven years.

The high-stakes trip marks the biggest step yet in a cautious thaw between India and China after a deadly military clash in 2020 along their disputed Himalayan border.