Iran has been invited to join the BRICS group of developing nations along with Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia, Egypt, Argentina, and the United Arab Emirates, in a move aimed at growing the clout of a bloc that has pledged to champion the "Global South." Expansion could also pave the way for dozens of interested countries seeking admission to BRICS -- currently Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa -- at a time when geopolitical polarization is spurring efforts by Beijing and Moscow to forge it into a viable counterweight to the West. The new candidates become members on January 1, 2024. To read the original story by Reuters, click here.
