In remarks to the IRNA reproduced by local press after leaving for Addis Ababa on Wednesday, Ghalibaf stated that the Iranian legislative body sees Africa as a land of opportunity.

He explained that the visit to Ethiopia, on an invitation by his Ethiopian counterpart, Tagesse Chafo, to strengthen economic, cultural, and political ties between the two nations, responded to its key position in the continent.

The report added that developing ties with African countries is a foreign policy priority for Iran, as they focused on expanding relations with neighboring and regional nations and beyond with like-minded interests.

The BRICS was founded by Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. It accounts for about 40 percent of the world’s population and 37 percent of the world’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by purchasing power.

The alliance expanded on January 1, 2024, to embrace Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, and Iran. Indonesia joined the bloc on January 6, 2025.

Other nations also agreed to join BRICS in another category, as associate members. These are Cuba, Bolivia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda, and Uzbekistan. Nigeria, Turkiye, and Algeria are expected to confirm their participation.

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