CURRENT AFFAIRS

Detailed explanation-1: -Since South Africa joined the BRIC grouping (now BRICS) in 2010, numerous other countries have expressed interest in joining the bloc, including Argentina and Iran.

Detailed explanation-2: -Concerning a BRICS expansion, Lavrov stated that Algeria, Argentina, and Iran had all applied, while it is already known that Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Egypt and Afghanistan are interested, along with Indonesia, which is expected to make a formal application to join at the upcoming G20 summit in Bali.

Detailed explanation-3: -Recent news that other mostly non-democratic states – Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Turkey (and Argentina) – have either applied to join the BRICS, or are considering doing so, is also cause for concern among Western governments.

Detailed explanation-4: -Two new countries - Iran and Argentina - have applied to join the increasingly influential BRICS - Brazi, Russia, India, China and South Africa - grouping, an Iranian official said Monday, according to news agency Reuters. The official said Iran’s inclusion in BRICS would result in ‘added values for both sides’.

Detailed explanation-5: -Iranian official says membership ‘would result in added values for both sides’.