- The meeting also highlighted New Delhi’s role as a venue for regional diplomacy, with the BRICS summit bringing together Iran and the UAE as members of the expanded grouping
Iran and the United Arab Emirates have signaled a possible diplomatic reset after Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian met UAE Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in New Delhi.
Pezeshkian said Tehran and Abu Dhabi had agreed to move beyond their recent differences and look toward the future, describing the meeting as a constructive exchange. The meeting marked a significant diplomatic contact between Iran and the UAE following a sharp deterioration in relations during the regional conflict. It also came weeks after the UAE suspended trade and financial dealings with Iran, underscoring the importance of the New Delhi encounter.
Pezeshkian said Iran and the UAE wanted to strengthen bilateral ties and build on their relationship going forward. The talks focused on bilateral relations and regional developments, including efforts to reduce tensions across the Middle East. The Iranian president also stressed the distinction between Iran’s relations with the UAE and the presence of US military forces in the country, according to reports on the meeting, the news agencies report.
The encounter came against the backdrop of heightened regional tensions and attacks involving Iran and Gulf states. Despite those strains, Iran and the UAE backed a joint BRICS statement calling for restraint, de-escalation, protection of civilians, respect for sovereignty and the preservation of global trade and maritime stability.
The meeting also highlighted New Delhi’s role as a venue for regional diplomacy, with the BRICS summit bringing together Iran and the UAE as members of the expanded grouping. While the meeting does not by itself signal a full restoration of relations, the public commitment by both sides to look beyond the recent conflict points to an effort to reopen diplomatic channels and prevent further deterioration in ties.
