Iran, UAE leaders meet on BRICS sidelines in Delhi as US-Iran war tests regional ties in Middle East | Today’s news
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian met with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who represents the United Arab Emirates, on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in New Delhi. The meeting is a diplomatic coup of sorts as the two sides have been at odds during the ongoing US-Iran war.
Iran’s official news agency IRNA released a video of the meeting but gave no details of the discussions between the two sides.
The two leaders discussed a number of regional and international issues, along with the importance of supporting efforts to de-escalate, reduce tensions and achieve stability in the region, as well as increasing opportunities for peace and development for its peoples, according to people familiar with the development.
The BRICS summit, hosted by India as the chair this year, has come at a challenging time for India as the grouping navigates the fallout from the US-Iran war and the wider Middle East crisis.
For New Delhi, the task was to strike a delicate diplomatic balance. The expanded BRICS includes Iran, as well as the UAE and Saudi Arabia, countries with divergent interests and positions on regional conflict in the Middle East as a result of the US-Iran war.
At the same time, India maintains important strategic and economic relations with United States of America and Gulf countries.
New Delhi Declaration
On Saturday evening, Prime Minister Narendra Modi confirmed the acceptance of the declaration from New Delhi after the first day of the two-day summit hosted by India at the Bharat Mandapam.
The declaration is seen as a major diplomatic breakthrough as its leaders begin the summit hoping to bridge differences between Iran and Iran’s members. United Arab Emirates about the conflict in the Persian Gulf, which is taking place as the United States and Iran renew strikes in their six-month-old war.
In its statement, the BRICS bloc also called for the implementation of relevant UN General Assembly and UN Security Council resolutions and urged all parties to ensure the maintenance of the ceasefire and full and unrestricted humanitarian access to the Gaza Strip.
The joint statement did not name any country but condemned unilateral aggression by any country. Both Iran and the UAE endorsed the New Delhi Declaration.
“Against unilateral and inhumane sanctions”
During his speech at the BRICS summit, the Iranian president urged the BRICS forum to take practical measures against unilateral and inhumane sanctions. Pezeshkian said BRICS must be a voice for justice.
BRICS members have a responsibility to oppose the normalization of attacks on civilian infrastructure and peaceful nuclear facilities.
“BRICS members have a responsibility to oppose the normalization of attacks on civilian infrastructure and peaceful nuclear facilities, as any action against these sites poses a direct threat to international peace and security. The issue of Palestine and the promotion of the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination is a serious test of the credibility and legitimacy of global governance and requires the BRICS to play an active role,” he said.
