Rifts Emerge Within BRICS Over the Middle East as Iran and the UAE Take Opposing Sides

Source: Το Βήμα Online | Original Published At: 2026-05-14 10:08:21 UTC

Key Points

• Iran’s foreign minister called on BRICS members to explicitly condemn what Tehran described as violations of international law by the United States and Israel.
• The New Delhi BRICS foreign ministers’ talks exposed internal divergence, especially with both Iran and the United Arab Emirates now inside the expanded grouping.
• Because BRICS works by consensus, conflicting positions among members may complicate agreement on a joint communiqué.
• The article links the regional conflict to major disruption around the Strait of Hormuz, with impacts on oil flows and crude prices.
• India’s foreign minister emphasized stability and uninterrupted navigation through key sea lanes, including the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea.
• India also raised concern over unilateral sanctions, arguing they disproportionately affect developing countries and should not replace diplomacy.
• The report notes India holds the BRICS presidency in 2026, as expectations rise for a stabilizing role from the bloc.