Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva met with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on the sidelines of COP31 on November 12. (Foto: Instagram)
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Nov. 12 on the sidelines of the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference, known as COP31. According to a statement from Brazil’s presidential office, Lula called for free navigation in the Strait of Hormuz amid the Middle East conflict’s effects on fuel and food prices.
The strait is central to the conflict between the United States and Iran. The maritime passage carries between 20% and 30% of the world’s oil and at least 20% of its liquefied natural gas, according to the report. As tensions have escalated, Iran has restricted vessel traffic in the area, putting pressure on fuel prices worldwide.
Pezeshkian gave Lula an update on ongoing peace negotiations with the United States, according to the presidential office. The conflict between the countries intensified in February 2026 after a U.S. government offensive targeting Iranian regime leaders.
Lula also advocated a peaceful resolution. In its statement, the presidential office said he recalled Brazil’s role in negotiating the 2010 Tehran Declaration and encouraged efforts to end the conflict peacefully. Lula also defended the right to use nuclear energy for peaceful, civilian purposes.
The presidents discussed expanding bilateral trade, which totaled $3 billion in 2025. Lula expressed interest in increasing Brazil’s imports of Iranian fertilizer.
