Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva met with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on the sidelines of COP31 on Nov. 12 and called for free navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. (Foto: Instagram)
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva met with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Thursday, Nov. 12, on the sidelines of the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP31. According to a statement from Brazil’s presidential palace, Lula called for “free navigation” through the Strait of Hormuz amid the war in the Middle East and its effects on fuel and food prices.
The strait is a key route in the conflict between the United States and Iran. It carries an estimated 20% to 30% of the world’s oil and at least 20% of its liquefied natural gas. As tensions have risen, Iran has restricted vessel traffic in the area, putting pressure on fuel prices worldwide.
Pezeshkian briefed Lula on ongoing peace negotiations with the United States, according to the Brazilian presidency. The conflict intensified in February 2026 after a U.S. government offensive targeting leaders of Iran’s ruling regime.
During the meeting, Lula advocated a peaceful resolution. The presidential palace said he recalled Brazil’s role in negotiating the 2010 Tehran Declaration and encouraged efforts to resolve the conflict peacefully. Lula also defended the right to use nuclear energy for peaceful, civilian purposes, according to the statement.
The two leaders also discussed expanding trade between Brazil and Iran. Bilateral trade totaled $3 billion in 2025, and Lula expressed interest in increasing Brazil’s imports of Iranian fertilizers.
