New Delhi: India, Brazil and South Africa have warned that “renewed threats of military action and intimidation” in West Asia could jeopardise diplomatic efforts to end the US-Iran war, as an Iranian proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and lift the US blockade of its ports remains the subject of behind-the-scenes negotiations despite Donald Trump publicly rejecting it.The cautionary message came in the joint media statement of the 14th IBSA Trilateral Ministerial Commission meeting, which was released on Monday (September 28), four days after the meeting of the foreign ministers was held in New York on September 24.Just two days earlier, US President Trump had told the UN General Assembly that he faced a choice between reaching a deal and taking further military action to “annihilate” Iran, while saying he hoped an agreement could still be reached.The three ministers said that “actions taken outside established frameworks of dialogue, diplomacy and international law risk further undermining of regional peace, security and stability”. They warned that “renewed threats of military action and intimidation will only serve to jeopardise ongoing dialogue, mediation and confidence-building efforts in the region” and called on “all parties to exercise restraint”.They also linked the West Asian conflict to concerns beyond the region, saying it was having a “negative spill-over effect” on the Global South through energy and food insecurity, inflation and fiscal pressures. The ministers called for the “unimpeded flow of global trade, supply chains and energy”, as well as the safety of seafarers and merchant vessels and freedom of navigation through critical maritime routes.The statement did not name Iran, Israel or the United States or attribute responsibility for the military escalation.The three countries issue the warning as the nearly seven-month conflict has severely disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important waterways for energy shipments. The disruption has pushed up global oil prices and affected energy and trade flows far beyond the region, while regional countries face missile and drone attacks and shipping through another critical waterway, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, also comes under pressure.Iran had proposed reopening the strait within seven days in return for the lifting of the US blockade, and the release of frozen Iranian assets and waivers on sanctions affecting Iranian oil sales. Trump publicly rejected the proposal, but mediators, including Qatar, have continued working with Washington and Tehran, with indirect talks expected to resume on Monday, according to an Associated Press report.In the Gaza section of the ministerial, the three countries expressed “deep concern” over continued violence in Gaza despite the ceasefire and called for “halting any policies aimed at forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza Strip”. They also expressed concern over “arrangements that may prejudice the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and legitimise or prolong occupation”.A ceasefire reached in October 2025 brought a halt to the most intense phase of the fighting in Gaza, but has not ended violence in the territory. There have been repeated reports of Israeli fire causing deaths and injuries, while restrictions on humanitarian access and the destruction of civilian infrastructure have left severe humanitarian needs.They reiterated their “unwavering commitment to the two-state solution”, backing an independent and viable Palestinian state “within the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital”, alongside Israel, and supported Palestine’s admission as a member of the United Nations.In 2025, India, Brazil and South Africa had directly “condemned the Israeli attacks against Gaza” and referred to the “deaths, destruction, forced displacement and famine” caused by the war. They had called for a permanent ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli troops and the delivery of humanitarian assistance at scale.The ministers also called for “urgent and comprehensive” reform of the UN Security Council, backed permanent African representation and reiterated support for Brazil’s and India’s aspirations for permanent seats.The statement also raised the question of representation in the selection of the next UN secretary-general, noting that “no woman has ever been elected” to the post. It pointed out that only one person from Latin America and the Caribbean and two each from Africa and Asia have served as secretary-general.The next secretary-general will be chosen later this year to succeed Antonio Guterres, whose second term ends on December 31. Seven candidates remain in the race after former Chilean president and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet withdrew earlier this month.On trade, the ministers reiterated “serious concern over the imposition of unilateral tariffs and other discriminatory and protectionist measures”, saying such measures were destabilising markets and contributing to greater fragmentation.The ministers’ criticism of unilateral tariffs also came as all three IBSA countries have been targeted by the Trump administration’s trade measures.India has faced steep additional US tariffs, including duties linked to its purchases of Russian oil. Trump hit Brazil with an additional 40% tariff in July 2025, taking the total tariff to 50%, with the White House explicitly linking the measure to what it called the “politically motivated persecution” of former president Jair Bolsonaro. South Africa was subjected to a 30% US tariff in July 2025, while the Trump administration wrongly accused it of “white genocide” and criticised its position on Israel and Gaza.