A moment of unscripted snacking overshadowed serious diplomacy at the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi after video showed India's Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, repeatedly reaching into a box of nuts while Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian delivered his address. Wearing translation headphones as he stood near the Indian delegation, Jaiswal was seen eating, licking his fingers, and returning for more servings as cameras panned across the room, turning what should have been a background detail into the day's most talked-about clip. The footage spread rapidly on social media, with users poking fun at his table manners even as the summit itself grappled with weighty topics including Middle East tensions and global economic cooperation. Eventually, staff intervened and quietly removed the box from the table.

A separate clip from the same summit also circulated showing India's National Security Adviser, Ajit Doval, eating dry fruits while Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke, adding to the wave of online commentary about candid moments caught on camera during otherwise formal proceedings. The reaction split opinion, with some commentators calling the snacking relatable and harmless while others questioned whether it reflected poorly on diplomatic decorum during a high-stakes gathering. Held September 12 and 13 amid heightened regional tensions involving Iran, the summit's substantive discussions were, for a stretch of the news cycle, eclipsed entirely by a box of pistachios and cashews.