Iran and the United Arab Emirates signed a joint BRICS statement calling for restraint in the Middle East war on Saturday, a diplomatic step between two members on opposing sides of the conflict.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian met Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on the sidelines of the first day of the Delhi summit. The Abu Dhabi media office said the leaders discussed regional and international issues, de-escalation and stability, without referring to any resolution.
The declaration expressed “deep concern over the continued escalation of tensions in Middle East/West Asia” and called for “exercising maximum restraint.” It urged protection of civilians, respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states, and protection of global trade, supply chains, energy flows and maritime security.
The BRICS bloc, set up in 2009 to challenge a world order dominated by the United States and its Western allies, originally comprised Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. It expanded to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the UAE. Leaders at the summit included Russia’s Vladimir Putin, China’s Xi Jinping and South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa.
The joint statement was reached by side-stepping issues on which members sharply disagree. Twice earlier this year, meetings between BRICS ministers had failed to produce a joint statement. The New Delhi Declaration condemns “attacks on civilian infrastructure and peaceful nuclear facilities” but assigns no blame, reiterates support for a two-state solution, and lists concerns over “indiscriminate rising tariffs” and unilateral sanctions without naming the United States. It makes no mention of Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Host Prime Minister Narendra Modi told leaders the bloc should become “rule-shapers” rather than “rule-takers,” and said the group was “not against anyone.”
Xi said BRICS countries should steer the international order toward greater equity and justice, and that China was ready to play its “due role” in achieving peace in the Middle East. “Relevant parties must remain committed to a political settlement and work towards achieving a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire,” he said, according to state broadcaster CCTV.
“The key to ending the war lies with the U.S. and Israel,” Sunjay Sudhir, a former Indian ambassador to the UAE, told Reuters, adding that India had kept “the difficult conversations going.”