TLDR: Iran is significantly advancing its artificial intelligence capabilities through national programs, substantial investments, and active participation in BRICS+ initiatives. The nation aims to become a top 10 global innovator in AI within a decade, aligning with the broader BRICS push for alternative AI governance frameworks.
Iran is making concerted efforts to establish itself as a key player in the global artificial intelligence landscape, driven by a comprehensive national strategy and substantial financial commitments. These initiatives are increasingly intertwined with its engagement within the BRICS+ framework, signaling a strategic alignment with a bloc seeking to shape future AI standards.
In a significant move, Iran’s acting President, Mohammad Mokhber, instructed government agencies in July 2024 to commence the implementation of a national program for AI development. This builds upon a decree issued in December 2023 for the establishment of a ‘National Steering Committee and the National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Center.’ Further solidifying its commitment, Iran officially launched its national AI organization in Tehran in July 2024. The overarching ambition is clear: Iran aims to be among the top 10 innovative nations in artificial intelligence technology within the next decade. To foster public awareness and expertise, the first national conference on AI in education and training is slated for October 9.
Financially, Iran has committed a substantial $115 million to bolster AI research and development, as reported in January 2025. This investment includes approximately $15.6 million in grants specifically for commercializing innovative AI projects, alongside $100 million available as loans to support broader AI development initiatives. Iranian Science Minister Hossein Simayi Sarraf underscored the strategic importance of this funding, stating, ‘AI has spread everywhere, and this is undeniable. Major countries of the world have made huge investments in AI, and we will also increase investment in this field.’
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Iran’s engagement with AI extends to its role within the BRICS+ alliance. At the 17th BRICS Summit in Brazil in July 2025, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi delivered a speech highlighting Iran’s stance on strengthening multilateralism, economic-financial cooperation, and artificial intelligence. This aligns with a broader BRICS agenda that observers note is taking ‘a major step toward controlling the future of AI.’ Discussions within BRICS have touched upon establishing alternative AI governance frameworks, potentially leading to a ‘split digital future’ where BRICS members develop their own AI standards outside the influence of Western powers. With Indonesia joining BRICS in early 2025 and India set to chair the bloc in 2026 with a focus on cross-border tech transfer and space collaboration, the collective push for a distinct AI ecosystem is gaining momentum. Araghchi also emphasized the need for unity in confronting attempts to ‘deprive our nations of their fundamental rights to access science and technology,’ a sentiment that resonates strongly in the context of AI development and access.
