The Iranian parliament speaker said that BRICS is a major economic bloc, through which Iran can neutralize the impact of Western countries' sanctions.

Mohammad Bagheri Ghalibaf made the remarks while talking to reporters in Tehran on Friday after a two-day visit to South Africa to attend the BRICS Parliamentary Forum in Johannesburg.

The speaker said that the visit to South Africa created "good opportunities" for Iran. He noted that membership in the BRICS group can economically benefit Iran to a large extent.

Ghalibaf said that the group with the major countries that are already member states along with the 6 new countries that recently have joint form a big economic power.

He added that the BRICS members can create an independent financial market, noting that the group has already created a development bank with an initial $50 billion investment that is already operating and has more than 50 projects at hand now.

Ghalibaf added that BRICS members have laid the ground for becoming a major economic bloc since over the past years since its founding.

He went on to say that a SWIFT-like financial system that the BRICS members have created and Iran has joined, can confront the unilateralism of the Western countries led by the United States.

"Iran's government and parliament will use the BRICS opportunity to neutralize the sanctions," the speaker noted.

He further said that In addition to participating in BRICS forum, he pursued expanding bilateral relations with South Africa in meeting with the country's parliamentary officials.

He further said he held meetings with his counterparts from the participating countries, adding that "The Speaker of the Egyptian Parliament invited me to visit Egypt. The relationship between two nations can have great economic, social and political effects."

Ghalibaf held separate meetings with the parliament speakers of Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and Namibia while in Johannesburg on Thursday.