Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf will not attend the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum in New Delhi on October 26-27 due to “certain unforeseen circumstances”, the Embassy of Iran in India announced on Saturday, October 24 — two days before the forum opens.
Source: ANI via LatestLY
“The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in New Delhi wishes to inform that, due to certain unforeseen circumstances, H.E. Dr. Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf, Speaker of the Islamic Consultative Assembly of Iran, will be unable to attend the Meeting of Speakers of the Parliaments of BRICS Member Countries in New Delhi. It is also emphasized that the parliamentary delegation of the Islamic Republic of Iran will participate in the meeting,” the embassy said in its statement, as reported by ANI.
Source: ANI via LatestLY
The embassy gave no further reason for the Speaker's absence. It reaffirmed that, as a BRICS member, Iran remains committed to “active and effective” participation in the grouping's summits and meetings, and said its delegation would continue dialogue and consultations with representatives of member countries to strengthen bilateral and multilateral cooperation, particularly in parliamentary relations. The embassy also thanked the Indian government for its hospitality and arrangements for hosting the forum.
Source: ANI via LatestLY
The withdrawal reverses the plan confirmed only two days earlier: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla had told reporters on Thursday that Qalibaf was expected in New Delhi. The Parliament of India will host the two-day forum at the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the event and meet the leaders of visiting delegations, Birla said.
Source: The Legitimate
The forum's overarching theme is “Strengthening Parliaments for People-Centric Development”, and its deliberations will focus on strengthening institutions, promoting human-centred innovation in artificial intelligence and digital technologies, making global governance more representative through parliamentary cooperation, and ensuring a sustainable and inclusive future, The Legitimate reported.
Source: The Legitimate
Reporting on the cancellation has noted that it comes amid the ongoing conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States and Qalibaf's important role in negotiations on Iran's behalf, including discussions related to the Strait of Hormuz. The Iranian Embassy has not said whether those developments are connected to his decision not to travel, and no such link has been stated by Tehran.
Source: Madhyamam (citing Hindustan Times)
Sources: ANI via LatestLY, October 24, 2026; Nation Press, October 24, 2026; The Legitimate, October 24, 2026; and Madhyamam, October 24, 2026.
Source: ANI via LatestLY