{"id":56441,"date":"2026-03-21T16:01:51","date_gmt":"2026-03-21T20:01:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stateofthenation.info\/?p=56441"},"modified":"2026-03-21T16:09:11","modified_gmt":"2026-03-21T20:09:11","slug":"iranian-president-masoud-pezeshkian-formally-requests-that-brics-play-their-role-in-stopping-attacks-on-iran","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stateofthenation.info\/?p=56441","title":{"rendered":"<h2><b>Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian formally requests that BRICS current chair \u2018play its role\u2019 in stopping attacks on Iran<\/b><\/h2>"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><!--more--><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-56442\" src=\"http:\/\/stateofthenation.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Screenshot-2026-03-21-at-3.56.39-PM.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"553\" height=\"558\" srcset=\"https:\/\/stateofthenation.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Screenshot-2026-03-21-at-3.56.39-PM.png 553w, https:\/\/stateofthenation.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Screenshot-2026-03-21-at-3.56.39-PM-297x300.png 297w, https:\/\/stateofthenation.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Screenshot-2026-03-21-at-3.56.39-PM-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 553px) 100vw, 553px\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"article__text text \">\n<hr \/>\n<p>Iran\u2019s President Masoud Pezeshkian has said the BRICS alliance, which India currently chairs, should\u00a0<em>\u201cplay an independent role in halting aggression against Iran.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p>In a phone call with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Pezeshkian also proposed establishing a regional security framework made up of West Asian countries\u00a0<em>\u201caimed at ensuring peace and stability in the region through regional cooperation without foreign interference.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Here are the latest developments:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>US President Donald Trump has ruled out pausing the conflict, saying American forces\u00a0<em>\u201cknocked out everything\u201d<\/em>\u00a0and insisting\u00a0<em>\u201cyou don\u2019t do a ceasefire when you\u2019re literally obliterating the other side.\u201d<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Russian President Vladimir Putin has described Tehran as\u00a0<em>\u201ca loyal and reliable partner\u201d<\/em>\u00a0in a Nowruz message released by the Kremlin.<\/li>\n<li>Iraq has declared force majeure on foreign-operated oilfields after disruptions to tanker traffic through the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rt.com\/news\/635536-iran-israel-qatar-war-energy\/\">Strait of Hormuz<\/a>\u00a0cut southern crude output from about 3.3 million barrels per day to roughly 900,000 bpd, Reuters reported, citing oil ministry officials.<\/li>\n<li>Drone strikes sparked a major fire near a US-linked military complex in Baghdad, while Iran said its drones also targeted military infrastructure at Tel Aviv\u2019s Ben Gurion Airport, including fuel depots and aircraft refueling sites.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>21 March 2026<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article__updates-dates\">\n<div class=\"updates-dates__des\">\n<div class=\"js-listing\">\n<div class=\"js-listing__content\">\n<div class=\"updates-dates\">\n<p><strong class=\"updates-dates__time\">17:25 GMT<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"updates-dates__text text\">\n<p>Imam Ali Hospital in Andimeshk in southern Iran has been severely damaged in a recent US-Israeli strike, with several units put out of operation, Fars news has reported.<\/p>\n<div class=\"rtcode\">\n<div><iframe loading=\"lazy\" id=\"telegram-post-farsna-422414\" src=\"https:\/\/t.me\/farsna\/422414?embed=1\" width=\"100%\" height=\"\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Meanwhile, Pirhosein Kulivand, head of Iran\u2019s Red Crescent Society, has estimated that since the start of the US-Israeli aggression against the Islamic Republic late last month, 266 medical facilities have been targeted. On top of that, dozens of ambulances have come under attack, with twelve medical professionals and one Red Crescent representative killed, according to Kulivand<\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cWe consider these to be violations of human rights and we update our statistics daily, sending it to the esteemed prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, the president of the Red Cross Committee, the president of the Red Cross Federation, the secretariat of the United Nations Human Rights Council, and all international organizations, so that we can carry out our legal follow-ups,<\/em>\u201d Kulivand added.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<ul class=\"card-list\">\n<li class=\"card-list__item\">\n<div class=\"updates-dates\">\n<p><strong class=\"updates-dates__time\">16:46 GMT<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"updates-dates__text text\">\n<p>Iran\u2019s President Masoud Pezeshkian has said the BRICS alliance, which India currently chairs, should\u00a0<em>\u201cplay an independent role in halting aggression against Iran.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p>In a phone call with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Pezeshkian also proposed establishing a regional security framework made up of West Asian countries\u00a0<em>\u201caimed at ensuring peace and stability in the region through regional cooperation without foreign interference.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<div class=\"rtcode\">\n<div class=\"twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered\"><iframe id=\"twitter-widget-0\" class=\"\" title=\"X Post\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?creatorScreenName=RT_com&amp;dnt=false&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-0&amp;features=eyJ0ZndfdGltZWxpbmVfbGlzdCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOltdLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2ZvbGxvd2VyX2NvdW50X3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9iYWNrZW5kIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19yZWZzcmNfc2Vzc2lvbiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZm9zbnJfc29mdF9pbnRlcnZlbnRpb25zX2VuYWJsZWQiOnsiYnVja2V0Ijoib24iLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X21peGVkX21lZGlhXzE1ODk3Ijp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRyZWF0bWVudCIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3Nob3dfYmlyZHdhdGNoX3Bpdm90c19lbmFibGVkIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19kdXBsaWNhdGVfc2NyaWJlc190b19zZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdXNlX3Byb2ZpbGVfaW1hZ2Vfc2hhcGVfZW5hYmxlZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdmlkZW9faGxzX2R5bmFtaWNfbWFuaWZlc3RzXzE1MDgyIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRydWVfYml0cmF0ZSIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfbGVnYWN5X3RpbWVsaW5lX3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9mcm9udGVuZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9fQ%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=2035348460673937418&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rt.com%2Fnews%2F635696-iran-war-live-updates-march-21%2F&amp;sessionId=15b2aced6cc1b5b8b6620d79be819e441a338a2c&amp;siteScreenName=RT_com&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&amp;width=550px\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-tweet-id=\"2035348460673937418\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><em>\u201cExpressing deep concern over the escalation of tensions and conflict in West Asia, the Prime Minister of India strongly condemned any attacks on energy infrastructure in the region, noting that such actions pose serious threats to global food and energy security and to agricultural exports worldwide. He also emphasized the importance of ensuring the continued security of the Strait of Hormuz and the freedom of navigation in the Persian Gulf,\u201d<\/em>\u00a0the Iranian Embassy in India wrote in a statement.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"card-list__item\">\n<div class=\"updates-dates\">\n<p><strong class=\"updates-dates__time\">16:43 GMT<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"updates-dates__text text\">\n<p>The CIA, Mossad and other intelligence agencies still have no clear picture as to the physical condition, whereabouts and the role in Iran\u2019s power structure of recently-elected Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, according to Axios. The publication says that despite Khamenei not releasing any video address to date, both the US and Israeli intelligence services believe that he is alive.<\/p>\n<p>Earlier this month, Iranian authorities confirmed that the supreme leader had sustained some injuries in the first wave of the US-Israeli strikes on Tehran on February 28, which killed his father and predecessor Ali Khamenei. Contrary to media claims, the senior official\u00a0<em>\u201cis in excellent health\u201d<\/em>\u00a0and remains\u00a0<em>\u201cin control of the situation,\u201d<\/em>\u00a0Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said last Sunday.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"card-list__item\">\n<div class=\"updates-dates\">\n<p><strong class=\"updates-dates__time\">16:10 GMT<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"updates-dates__text text\">\n<p>North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis has bemoaned an apparent lack of\u00a0<em>\u201cstrategic articulation of the strategy\u201d<\/em>\u00a0by the Trump administration regarding the US campaign against Iran.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article__cover\">\n<div class=\"media\">\n<picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/mf.b37mrtl.ru\/files\/2026.03\/original\/69becded20302723e747895c.jpg\" sizes=\"530px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/mf.b37mrtl.ru\/files\/2026.03\/original\/69becded20302723e747895c.jpg\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"read-more__cover lazyautosizes lazyloaded\" src=\"https:\/\/mf.b37mrtl.ru\/files\/2026.03\/original\/69becded20302723e747895c.jpg\" sizes=\"530px\" alt=\"RT\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-src=\"https:\/\/mf.b37mrtl.ru\/files\/2026.03\/original\/69becded20302723e747895c.jpg\" \/><\/picture>\n<div class=\"media__footer media__footer_bottom \">\n<div class=\"media__title media__title_footer\">Sen. Thom Tillis speaks to a reporter as he arrives for the Senate Republicans&#8217; lunch meeting in the US Capitol on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. \u00a9\u00a0 Bill Clark\/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The Republican lawmaker said that while he generally supports the military action,\u00a0<em>\u201cthe real question is: What ultimately are we trying to accomplish?\u201d<\/em>\u00a0as quoted by AP.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"card-list__item\">\n<div class=\"updates-dates\">\n<p><strong class=\"updates-dates__time\">16:08 GMT<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"updates-dates__text text\">\n<p>Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has warned that the ongoing US-Israeli aggression against Iran is bound to have grave ramifications that will reverberate for a long time to come.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"card-list__item\">\n<div class=\"updates-dates\">\n<p><strong class=\"updates-dates__time\">15:08 GMT<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"updates-dates__text text\">\n<p>The leaders of 22 countries, including the UK, France, Germany, and the United Arab Emirates, have issued a joint statement on the situation in the Strait of Hormuz. The signatories\u00a0<em>\u201ccondemn in the strongest terms recent attacks by Iran on unarmed commercial vessels in the Gulf, attacks on civilian infrastructure including oil and gas installations, and the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iranian forces.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p>The joint statement urges Tehran to cease the laying of mines and drone and missile attacks on commercial vessels attempting to pass through the strategically important waterway.<\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cWe express our readiness to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait,\u201d<\/em>\u00a0the signatories said.<\/p>\n<div class=\"rtcode\">\n<div class=\"twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered\"><iframe id=\"twitter-widget-1\" class=\"\" title=\"X Post\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?creatorScreenName=RT_com&amp;dnt=false&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-1&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=2035087904670667003&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rt.com%2Fnews%2F635696-iran-war-live-updates-march-21%2F&amp;sessionId=15b2aced6cc1b5b8b6620d79be819e441a338a2c&amp;siteScreenName=RT_com&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&amp;width=550px\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-tweet-id=\"2035087904670667003\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"card-list__item\">\n<div class=\"updates-dates\">\n<p><strong class=\"updates-dates__time\">14:27 GMT<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"updates-dates__text text\">\n<p>The IDF has claimed to have conducted a\u00a0<em>\u201cwide-scale strike sortie in Tehran,\u201d<\/em>\u00a0attacking dozens of targets, including ballistic missile production facilities. According to the Israeli military, the strikes have significantly degraded Iran\u2019s capacity to manufacture key missile components.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"card-list__item\">\n<div class=\"updates-dates\">\n<p><strong class=\"updates-dates__time\">14:15 GMT<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"updates-dates__text text\">\n<p>Iranian air defense forces destroyed an Israeli F-16 fighter jet early on Saturday, IRNA media outlet has claimed, citing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) public relations department.<\/p>\n<p>According to Iran\u2019s Fars News, it was the third enemy warplane struck in Iranian airspace since late February, when the US and Israel launched their campaign against the Islamic Republic.<\/p>\n<p>The Israeli Air Force, in turn, has confirmed that a\u00a0<em>\u201csurface-to-air missile launch was detected toward an Israeli fighter jet,\u201d<\/em>\u00a0with no damage inflicted on the warplane.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"card-list__item\">\n<div class=\"updates-dates\">\n<p><strong class=\"updates-dates__time\">13:20 GMT<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"updates-dates__text text\">\n<p>The US military has struck more than 8,000 targets in Iran since the start of the conflict late last month, Chief of the US Central Command, Brad Cooper, has estimated. According to the admiral, these have included 130 Iranian vessels as well as\u00a0<em>\u201cthousands of Iranian missiles\u00a0<\/em>[and]<em>\u00a0advanced attack drones.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cIran\u2019s combat capability is on a steady decline as our offensive strikes ramp up,\u201d<\/em>\u00a0Cooper claimed.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"card-list__item\">\n<div class=\"updates-dates\">\n<p><strong class=\"updates-dates__time\">13:03 GMT<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"updates-dates__text text\">\n<p>Russia has condemned the attack on Iran\u2019s Natanz enrichment facility, calling it a\u00a0<em>\u201cblatant violation of international law,\u201d<\/em>\u00a0Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a statement.<\/p>\n<p>The\u00a0<em>\u201cirresponsible actions\u201d<\/em>\u00a0of the US and Israeli militaries are creating risks of a\u00a0<em>\u201ccatastrophe\u201d<\/em>\u00a0that could affect the entire Middle East, she warned.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>____<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rt.com\/news\/635696-iran-war-live-updates-march-21\/\">https:\/\/www.rt.com\/news\/635696-iran-war-live-updates-march-21\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-56441","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateofthenation.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56441","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateofthenation.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateofthenation.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateofthenation.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateofthenation.info\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=56441"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/stateofthenation.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56441\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateofthenation.info\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=56441"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateofthenation.info\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=56441"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateofthenation.info\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=56441"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}