The year 2024 marks Iran's first year as an official member of BRICS.

Iran's entry enhances BRICS' representation and strengthens its capacity to promote development. According to Iran's customs data, during the 2022-2023 fiscal year prior to joining BRICS, Iran's non-oil trade with BRICS nations reached nearly 40 billion USD, an increase of 14 percent compared to the previous year. China remains Iran's largest trading partner, a trend that is expected to grow as the BRICS framework expands.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has praised China for its significant role in fostering regional stability and expressed keen interest in expanding bilateral cooperation. Pezeshkian underscored China's diplomatic efforts in the successful normalization of relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia in 2023.

Iran's outreach to China has resulted in cooperation in several fields, such as tackling global issues like food security and climate change.

The two countries have established a China-Iran Joint Laboratory for Arid Land Agriculture and Ecology, and the China-Iran International Technology Transfer Service Organization. These projects focus on understanding and improving ecological water cycles and hydrological processes in arid areas, promoting sustainable agricultural practices, and preventing and controlling desertification.

At a press conference ahead of the International Conference on Combating Sand and Dust Storms in 2023, Ali Salajegheh, then Iran's vice president and head of the department of environment, highlighted the "good capacity" for environmental cooperation between Iran and China, especially in combating sand and dust storms.

He praised China's experience and efforts in desert greening, and said there are regular exchanges between climate experts of the two countries, particularly in fighting sand and dust storms.

During a BRICS sideline meeting in September, Ali Ahmadian, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, underscored the new Iranian government's willingness to work with China to implement the Iran-China comprehensive cooperation plan and enhance overall practical collaboration in economic and trade investment, digital technology, cultural tourism, and other areas.