SAEDNEWS: A warm and unexpected embrace between Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araqchi at the BRICS summit has gone viral, sparking global discussion over diplomatic optics and body language.
According to Saed News, the start of the 17th BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro featured a moment that captivated international audiences: Brazilian President Lula da Silva warmly greeting Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araqchi with an affectionate hug—an interaction that has since become one of the most widely viewed clips from the event.
The footage, circulating across social media platforms and covered by Iranian media outlets, shows Lula departing from standard diplomatic protocol by offering not just a handshake but a full embrace, accompanied by expressive body language and an unmistakably cordial tone. Observers have noted that Lula, a staunch advocate of South–South cooperation and a critic of unipolar global structures, appeared to signal political solidarity in addition to personal warmth.
The gesture has drawn particular attention given the current geopolitical landscape, where Iran faces growing Western isolation. Analysts suggest that such public camaraderie with a prominent BRICS leader may serve Tehran’s strategic aims to deepen ties within the bloc and challenge U.S.-led narratives.
While no official remarks were made during the greeting, the symbolic weight of Lula’s welcome has not gone unnoticed. For many in the Global South, the visual alone conveyed a subtle but potent message: alternative diplomatic alliances are not just possible—they are already underway.
