Iran and UAE on Opposite Sides: BRICS 2026 Poses Diplomatic Challenge for India

Source: Live Hindustan | Original Published At: 2026-09-09 14:38:58 UTC

Key Points

• The BRICS 2026 summit in New Delhi on 12-13 September will bring Iran and the United Arab Emirates onto the same platform despite opposing positions on the West Asia conflict.
• Iran wants BRICS countries to condemn U.S. and Israeli military actions and support its sovereignty, while the UAE emphasizes maritime security, freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, and preventing attacks on commercial ships.
• Disagreements between Iran and the UAE prevented a joint statement at the May foreign ministers’ meeting, increasing the challenge for India in securing the Delhi declaration.
• India plans to emphasize regional stability, respect for sovereignty, non-use of force, and freedom of navigation without naming any country, while keeping BRICS focused on economic cooperation.
• India is pushing consensus areas such as trade, supply-chain resilience, digital public infrastructure, startup networks, energy transition, and development finance through the New Development Bank.
• India is also using bilateral and smaller diplomatic channels, with Russia offering help, to reassure Tehran, Abu Dhabi and other Gulf partners that their core concerns will be addressed.
• The balance is linked to India’s economic interests because the Strait of Hormuz carries about one-fifth of global oil and LNG supplies, affecting India’s crude imports, exports, remittances and Gulf workers.