Iran Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni to Visit India for BRICS Disaster Management Meet Amid US-Iran Escalation
Iran Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni is expected to visit India after Pakistan to attend the BRICS Disaster Management Ministers meeting in New Delhi. The visit comes amid rising US-Iran tensions, drone attacks, regional security concerns, and diplomatic efforts involving Pakistan’s Islamabad MoU.
Momeni arrived in Pakistan on Monday and held a series of high-level meetings during his stay. On Tuesday, he met Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad. Before his meeting with Sharif, Momeni also met Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, according to Iran-based Mehr news. He further conducted bilateral discussions with his Pakistani counterpart, Seyed Mohsin Naqvi.
Following his engagements in Pakistan, Momeni is expected to travel to New Delhi, India, at the invitation of his Indian counterpart, ISNA news reported on July 20. The Iranian minister is scheduled to attend the BRICS Meeting of Ministers for Disaster Management on July 24, which will focus on regional strategies aimed at reducing disaster risks and strengthening emergency response cooperation. However, India has not yet issued official confirmation regarding the visit of the Iranian delegation.
India is hosting the third Meeting of the BRICS Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group in New Delhi from July 22 to July 23, 2026, followed by the Meeting of BRICS Disaster Management Ministers on July 24, 2026. The meetings are expected to serve as a platform for BRICS member countries to enhance cooperation in disaster risk reduction, resilience-building, and coordinated disaster management approaches.
The National Disaster Management Authority has also confirmed that India will host the Third BRICS Disaster Risk Reduction Group Technical-cum-Ministerial Meeting in New Delhi from July 22 to July 24, 2026.
"Together, BRICS2026 nations will advance cooperation for a more resilient future under the theme: 'Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability,'" the authority posted on Facebook.
Momeni’s reported visit comes during an ongoing escalation between Iran and the United States. The Iranian army stated on Wednesday that it launched drone attacks on what it described as US military facilities at Al-Azraq base in Jordan and Isa Air Base in Bahrain, according to Iran International.
Meanwhile, Iran’s IRNA news agency reported that the Islamic Republic of Iran Army, during the twenty-first phase of Operation Thunder, targeted US military units at the Al-Doha Garrison in Kuwait through drone strikes.
The report described Al-Doha as one of the most important US military bases in western Kuwait and a major support hub for American forces stationed in West Asia. It stated that the facility houses significant US Army equipment and personnel, along with naval and air force assets.
The Iranian attacks followed the United States announcing that it had "successfully completed the 11th consecutive evening of strikes against Iran."
The US Central Command said its forces targeted Iranian military operations centres, maritime capabilities, aircraft hangars, drone storage facilities, and military logistics infrastructure to reduce Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
The US Central Command further stated that Iran had attacked more than 30 commercial vessels travelling through the international waterway over the past three months, endangering hundreds of civilian sailors and affecting freedom of navigation.
Despite the tensions, US forces said the Strait of Hormuz remained open for commercial vessel transit. According to a statement posted on X on Wednesday, US Central Command forces had helped facilitate the movement of approximately 900 commercial vessels and 450 million barrels of crude oil since early May.
Meanwhile, Pakistan, which had earlier mediated a ceasefire between the United States and Iran, is working to prevent the collapse of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding signed last month between Washington and Tehran. The Islamabad MoU is a 14-point interim peace agreement aimed at ending the conflict between Iran and the United States.
Eskandar Momeni’s expected participation in the BRICS disaster management meeting highlights the intersection of diplomatic engagement and regional security concerns as Iran continues to navigate escalating tensions with the United States while maintaining international cooperation efforts through platforms such as BRICS.

Comment List