BRICS consensus on West Asia uncertain as Iran, UAE spar at meeting

Talks for a BRICS foreign ministers’ joint statement seemed balanced on a knife-edge on the first day of the meeting, with a consensus on the West Asia situation remaining uncertain. Diplomatic sources said efforts to find common ground between the UAE and Iran were still on, even as the 2 countries held on to their positions and even clashed at the meeting.

While the UAE is seeking condemnation of Iran’s actions, the Iranian foreign minister, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, urged member-states to “explicitly condemn violations of international law by the US and Israel, including their illegal aggression against Iran”.

Araghchi accused the Arab country of being directly involved in aggression against Iran. This accusation came not while delivering Iran’s national statement but in response to “unfounded” claims by UAE’s junior foreign minister Khalifa Shaheen Al Marar, according to reports from Iran.

“In fact, I must say that the UAE was directly involved in the act of aggression against Iran. When the war of aggression began against Iran, they (UAE) refused to even condemn it,” said Araghchi, accusing the UAE of providing military bases, airspace, land and facilities to the US and Israel.

"If you want Israel to provide your security, this is the result. If you want America to provide your security, this is the result you are complaining about now. Therefore, I strongly advise my brothers in the Emirates to reconsider their policy towards Iran,” he further said addressing the UAE minister, according to the Iranian state media.

The foreign ministers’ meeting ends with the final session on Friday morning. If there is no consensus for a joint statement, the meeting would likely end with a Chair’s statement like what happened with a meeting of the special envoys last month.

Significantly, external affairs minister S Jaishankar stressed in his welcome remarks at the meeting that it is essential for the smooth advancement of BRICS that “later members” fully appreciate and subscribe to the grouping consensus on various important issues. He was talking about institutional development, including the integration of new members through a stocktake and updation of existing mechanisms. Iran and UAE had both joined the grouping of major emerging economies along with Egypt and Ethiopia in 2024.

Araghchi also raised the issue of Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu’s “secret” trip to UAE during the war, something which Abu Dhabi has denied.

“Just yesterday, it was revealed that Netanyahu had traveled to the UAE during the war. It was also revealed that they participated in these attacks and may have even acted directly against us. So, the UAE is an active partner in this aggression, and there is no doubt about it,” said Araghchi.

While delivering Iran’s national statement, the minister also urged BRICS to prevent the politicization of international institutions and to take concrete action to halt “warmongering and to bring an end to the impunity of those who violate the UN Charter”.

“We believe that BRICS can, and must, become one of the principal pillars in shaping a more just, balanced, and humane global order; an order in which might can never make right,” said Araghchi.