India Mediates High-Stakes Iran-UAE Talks at BRICS Summit Amid Middle East Crisis

India has hosted high-level bilateral talks between Iran and the United Arab Emirates on Saturday, using its BRICS presidency to press for diplomatic restraint as regional conflict intensifies.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian met Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed on the sidelines of the summit. This encounter marked the highest-level direct contact between the two nations since regional stability ruptured following joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran and subsequent Iranian retaliatory operations across the Gulf.

Security Realities and Regional Fallout

The diplomatic breakthrough follows recent military escalations involving Gulf infrastructure. Iran's armed forces stated they targeted US military assets at the Al Minhad Air Base in the UAE and the Ahmad al-Jaber Air Base in Kuwait using missiles and drones.

Abu Dhabi finds itself navigating a delicate diplomatic landscape. As a fellow BRICS member alongside Tehran and Riyadh, the UAE must balance coalition solidarity with the pressures of an active regional theatre involving Washington and Tel Aviv.

Sovereignty and the Path to Dialogue

President Pezeshkian addressed the summit regarding regional stability, stating that sustainable security relies entirely on respecting national sovereignty. He rejected models that compartmentalised safety at the expense of neighbours.

The Iranian embassy conveyed that BRICS must actively oppose normalising attacks on civilian targets and peaceful nuclear installations. 

The BRICS Stance and New Delhi Declaration

During the summit, leaders unanimously adopted the New Delhi Declaration 2026. The text registers deep concern over West Asian hostilities and demands immediate, maximum restraint to avert wider devastation.

The declaration insists on safeguarding civilian infrastructure and respecting national sovereignty.