The BRICS+ bloc demonstrated its strategic utility during the Iran war by maintaining a measured diplomatic approach rather than taking a unified anti-American stance. As reported by The Diplomat, the messaging from the BRICS summit reflected caution rather than confrontation, with the bloc avoiding direct alignment with Tehran's position or open challenge to Washington. This outcome disappointed those expecting BRICS+ to operate as a cohesive anti-Western coalition, but such expectations misunderstood the organization's nature as a heterogeneous grouping of powers whose members share dissatisfaction with Western-led international order while holding divergent and sometimes contradictory regional priorities. The crisis reinforced contradictions within BRICS+ that had already become apparent during the first direct U.S.-Israeli joint attack on Iran in the 12-Day War of June 2025, with Tehran seeking political legitimacy, Russia viewing the crisis through broader U.S. global influence concerns, and China prioritizing energy security and economic stability.
The US-Iran crisis has intensified significantly with President Trump ordering "the U.S. Navy to shoot and kill" any boats putting mines in the Strait of Hormuz, as reported by Reuters. Trump has maintained that "we control the Strait [of Hormuz], and they've done no business... so we have been doing well on all fronts" and indicated that "Iran is having a very hard time figuring out who their leader is" amid internal infighting between hardliners and moderates. The US 5th Fleet is working with regional allies to increase ship and aircraft patrols in the Strait of Hormuz following Iran's recent unlawful merchant vessel seizures, while Secretary of State Pompeo indicated that "we're asking every nation that has energy needs to contribute to our effort" to deter Iranian provocations. According to Reuters, the International Energy Agency describes this as the most significant oil shock in history, with damage to almost 80 energy facilities in the Middle East amounting to at least US$25 billion in losses.
When the US-Iran war erupted on February 28, crude oil prices spiked more than 70% in the first seven weeks. According to reports from NDTV Profit, Asian countries have been hit the hardest because the region accounts for about 85% of crude shipments leaving the Gulf via the Strait of Hormuz. The war has not only impacted oil prices but also caused a shortage of fertilisers and strained national exchequers across the region. As reported by Reuters, the crisis represents multi-commodity shocks—on fertilisers, petrochemicals, and refined products in turn triggering cascading effects across global supply chains, extending beyond traditional oil and gas disruptions. The tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz reduced by as much as 95% compared to pre-crisis levels, operating on an ad-hoc basis with conflicting announcements from Washington and Tehran continuing to leave the passageway dangerously contested.
China's energy security concerns were particularly acute during the crisis, with 45-50% of China's crude oil imports passing through the Strait of Hormuz, leaving Beijing deeply vulnerable to any prolonged closure. As reported by The Diplomat, China prioritized energy security, economic stability, and the avoidance of prolonged regional escalation capable of disrupting global markets. This strategic balancing was evident in China's participation in the BRICS+ grouping, which offers additional diplomatic and economic options in a world where dependence on any single axis has become increasingly risky. The Xi-Trump meeting reinforced this broader trend by signaling that both Washington and Beijing still prioritize mechanisms of crisis management and strategic stabilization, even amid intensifying systemic competition. For GCC states, this confirmed that the emerging international order is unlikely to become fully bipolar, instead evolving into a more fluid and transactional system in which middle powers possess greater room for maneuvering.
India continued pursuing its traditional policy of strategic autonomy during the crisis, carefully balancing relations with Washington, Tehran, and Gulf states simultaneously. As reported by The Diplomat, India's naval escort of Indian-flagged Liquefied Petroleum Gas carriers out of the Gulf under Operation Sankalp illustrated this balancing act in practice, securing its own energy flows without formally aligning with either side. This approach reflects India's broader strategy of maintaining independence while participating in international cooperation frameworks. The recent BRICS Ministerial summit in New Delhi and parallel diplomatic engagement between Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump offered important insights into the evolving nature of the emerging multipolar order. For many observers, the war represented the first major geopolitical test for the expanded BRICS+ grouping, particularly after incorporation of Iran, the UAE, and Egypt into the bloc, and Saudi Arabia's participation as an observer.
The Iran war has not demonstrated the collapse of BRICS+ ambitions but has clarified their limits and purpose. As reported by The Diplomat, BRICS+ is not, and was never meant to become, an alternative alliance capable of replacing the U.S.-led security order. Rather, it operates as a diplomatic platform that allows regional actors to diversify partnerships, reduce overdependence on any single great power, and navigate an increasingly fragmented international system. The future regional order in the Gulf will not be defined by binary choices between Washington and Beijing, or between Western alliances and anti-Western coalitions, but by overlapping partnerships, flexible alignments, and constant strategic balancing. The crisis has highlighted that excessive ambiguity limits BRICS+'s ability to operate as an effective crisis-management actor during moments of acute regional confrontation, yet the bloc's adaptability and selective cooperation on issues like trade, finance, development, and energy coordination may constitute part of its enduring appeal.
