Hawzah News Agency- Hojatoleslam Ejei made the appeal in an address to the opening ceremony of the BRICS judicial summit in New Delhi, India, where he led a high-ranking judicial and legal delegation.
"BRICS member states should condemn the violation of Iran's sovereignty and territorial integrity and, by invoking the principle of universal jurisdiction, prosecute those responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity in the course of aggressions against the Islamic Republic of Iran," the judiciary chief said.
Prior to his departure for the summit, Ejei expressed hope that he could serve as "the voice of the brave and dignified people of Iran" during the visit.
Mediation as strategic tool in globalized economy
In a separate address to a specialized session of BRICS judiciary chiefs focused on "Mediation as a Strategic Tool for Resolving International Commercial Disputes in a Globalized Economy," Ejei offered an extensive analysis of the role of mediation in the modern economic order.
"What we are discussing today may appear at first glance to be a specialized topic in commercial law and dispute resolution. But I believe mediation in today's global economy extends far beyond a legal method for ending a dispute," he said.
"Mediation can be part of the architecture of trust, stability, and economic cooperation in our changing world."
The Iranian judiciary chief noted that the global economy is more interconnected than ever, with trade, investment, energy, technology, transportation, financial services, and supply chains creating relationships that transcend traditional national boundaries.
"Yet as these relationships grow broader and more complex, the likelihood of disputes also increases," he warned, adding that a commercial dispute could affect supply chains across multiple countries, influence future investment decisions, or impact economic relations between states.
Mediation preserves relationships
Ejei emphasized that mediation carries a different logic from litigation or arbitration.
"In litigation, the court decides the dispute. In arbitration, the arbitral body ends the dispute by issuing an award. But in mediation, an impartial third party helps the parties find their own solution," he explained.
"This distinction is particularly significant in international commercial relations, because in many commercial disputes, the parties still need each other after the dispute ends."
He noted that companies may remain business partners, parties to long-term energy contracts may continue cooperation for years, and infrastructure project partners may be compelled to jointly execute projects even after resolving their disputes.
"In such circumstances, the desired solution is not necessarily one that simply makes one party victorious and the other defeated. The ideal solution is one that ends the dispute while preserving the possibility of continued commercial relations. This is the strategic advantage of mediation," Ejei said.
Prevention before crisis
The judiciary chief stressed that dispute resolution mechanisms should not be remembered only when a dispute has turned into a crisis.
"Prevention must begin before the crisis. Dialogue must take shape before deadlock. And mediation must be employed before a dispute actualizes its full potential to become a broader crisis," he said.
Ejei also highlighted the preventive dimension of commercial mediation, noting that the distance between economic disputes, commercial disagreements, political tensions, and security crises has in some cases become dangerously short.
Judicial systems' role
The senior Iranian judicial official outlined the role of judicial systems in supporting mediation frameworks, saying courts are not merely institutions that act after disputes arise.
"Judicial systems can help create a safer environment for trade and investment by establishing appropriate legal frameworks, supporting mediation institutions, guaranteeing the impartiality and independence of the mediation process, and providing mechanisms for enforcing mediated agreements," he said.
He stressed that guaranteeing the enforceability of mediated agreements is essential for building trust among economic actors.
BRICS legal infrastructure
Ejei proposed that mediation could become a component of BRICS' legal infrastructure, noting the bloc's immense capacity in trade, investment, energy, technology, and economic cooperation.
"As economic relations among our countries expand, the need for shared and reliable legal infrastructure will also increase. I believe mediation can be one of the components of this legal infrastructure," he said.
The Iranian judiciary chief put forward a four-point proposal for cooperation on commercial mediation among BRICS members: establishing a network of credible commercial mediation centers in member states; drafting common principles on the independence, impartiality, and professional competence of mediators; designing joint programs for training and certifying mediators specialized in international commercial disputes; and creating cooperation mechanisms among mediation centers of member states while strengthening collaboration on the recognition and enforcement of mediated agreements.
Need for specialized human resources
Ejei emphasized that realizing these goals requires more than legislation.
"We need specialized human resources. Today's international commercial mediator cannot merely be a lawyer. They must understand economics, know international trade, be familiar with complex contract structures, understand financial and investment issues, recognize cultural differences, be acquainted with new technologies, and have a proper understanding of the geopolitical environment," he said.
He also called for up-to-date training for mediators, as well as sufficient familiarity among judges and lawyers with the logic and process of mediation.
Message of dialogue
Concluding his address, Ejei delivered a message on the significance of mediation in a globalized economy.
"In a world where economic disputes can rapidly transcend their boundaries, we must also develop dispute resolution mechanisms beyond borders. Mediation can transform dispute into dialogue. Dialogue can lead to understanding. Understanding can preserve cooperation. And cooperation can prevent a limited dispute from becoming a broader crisis," he said.
"This, I believe, is the true meaning of mediation in a globalized economy."
During the first day of his visit to India, Ejei also met with a large gathering of religious leaders, scholars, and intellectuals, discussing global peace, justice, countering aggression, and the necessity of cooperation among nations.
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