Iran asked South Africa’s government to support its “accelerated membership” of Brics, as the five-nation bloc prepares to hold a summit later this month.

“We hope to obtain the opportunity of accelerated membership under strong support we hope to receive from South Africa,” Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said at a briefing in the capital, Pretoria, on Thursday.

The heads of state of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa are scheduled to hold a meeting August 22 to 24 to discuss issues including the expansion of the group.