Trump’s ‘deepest, darkest China’ gets a Brics sequel with Iran's cameo as India walks tightrope - The Times of India

**Trump’s “deepest, darkest China” rhetoric resurfaces as India navigates a new BRICS chapter with Iran’s participation**

*New Delhi –* The Times of India reported that former U.S. President Donald Trump’s repeated description of China as the “deepest, darkest” nation is finding a diplomatic echo in a developing “BRICS sequel” that now features Iran alongside the original five members. The inclusion of Tehran in the grouping has prompted Indian policymakers to tread carefully, balancing the strategic benefits of deeper economic ties with the sensitivities surrounding China‑India rivalry and regional security concerns. India’s foreign ministry has emphasized that its engagement with Iran is guided by the principles of “strategic autonomy” and “non‑aligned cooperation,” aiming to harness trade opportunities—such as bilateral currency settlements—while avoiding entanglement in the broader geopolitical contest that Trump’s rhetoric has inflamed.

The evolving India‑Iran relationship was highlighted by a series of cultural and diplomatic exchanges in the capital this week. Three prominent Kashmiri religious leaders, including the Mirwaiz of Kashmir, attended an exhibition hosted by the Iranian embassy, underscoring Iran’s soft‑power outreach to communities affected by the long‑standing Kashmir dispute. In a separate meeting, the Mirwaiz met with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, a dialogue that the Indian government described as a testament to the ability of India and Iran to maintain constructive ties despite “sensitive” domestic and regional dynamics. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking with Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amir‑Abdollahian (Pezeshkian), urged Tehran to pursue dialogue‑driven solutions to the West Asian conflicts, reiterating India’s stance as a neutral facilitator in the region.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir‑Abdollahian praised India’s leadership within the BRICS framework, calling its approach “excellent” and signaling support for the expansion of national‑currency trade among member states. The endorsement aligns with India’s recent push to reduce reliance on the U.S. dollar, a move that dovetails with Tehran’s own efforts to diversify its trade mechanisms amid sanctions pressure. While the BRICS expansion promises economic dividends, analysts note that India must continue to manage its delicate balancing act: deepening ties with Iran and the broader BRICS bloc without aggravating its strategic competition with China, a nation that Trump repeatedly labeled as the “deepest, darkest” adversary.