Argentina and Iran should be admitted to the BRICS club, which presently consists of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, according to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Tuesday.

Argentina's President Alberto Fernandez said on June 24 that his country is pursuing full membership in the BRICS. Iran voiced a similar openness on June 27.

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Lavrov told reporters while attending a ministerial meeting of the Caspian states, “Of course, both Argentina and Iran are worthy, respected candidates, as well as a number of other countries that are also mentioned in the discussions, but the decision will be made by consensus."

According to Lavrov, the fundamental condition for these nations' entrance will be to guarantee greater efficacy and practical impact of the BRICS' activities.

Lavrov stated that “the most important thing is that the preparatory process has begun and the main criterion here will be, above all, to ensure further effectiveness, increasing the practical impact of the work of this structure."

On Friday, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi addressed a virtual summit of the BRICS Business Forum, which was attended by the group's top leaders and expressed his country's willingness to share its vast capabilities and potential to help the BRICS achieve its goals. He was invited by Chinese President Xi Jinping, as the periodic BRICS President.

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