Kumar Bahukhandi
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian meets Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi. The UN Secretary-General’s spokesperson described the engagement as “very important” and highlighted India’s potential role as a bridge-builder amid tensions in West Asia. (X.com)
Key Highlights
- UN spokesperson calls the Pezeshkian–Sheikh Khaled meeting “very important”.
- Stéphane Dujarric highlights India’s potential as a “bridge-builder” in West Asia.
- Meeting took place on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi.
- Pezeshkian urged BRICS to take a stronger position on sanctions and the Palestinian issue.
- New Delhi Declaration calls for maximum restraint, dialogue and diplomacy in West Asia.
- BRICS stresses protection of civilians and humanitarian access in Gaza.
- Declaration also raises concern over attacks on peaceful nuclear facilities under IAEA safeguards.
UN Secretary-General’s spokesperson calls Iran-UAE engagement on BRICS sidelines “very important” as New Delhi Declaration presses for restraint, dialogue and protection of civilians
New Delhi: A meeting between Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit has drawn attention to the potential diplomatic space offered by the New Delhi gathering amid continuing tensions in West Asia.
Stéphane Dujarric, spokesperson for UN Secretary-General António Guterres, described the interaction as “very important”, stressing that communication between parties assumes particular significance during periods of conflict.
“Whenever there is a conflict, it is very important that parties that are in conflict meet,” Dujarric said, while pointing to India’s potential role as a “bridge-builder” in efforts to help end the conflict.
The remarks add a diplomatic dimension to the BRICS Summit being hosted by India on September 12–13, where the crisis in West Asia has emerged as an important subject alongside the grouping’s broader economic and development agenda.Pezeshkian used his address at the summit to call for BRICS to take practical steps against unilateral sanctions and to speak more forcefully on questions of international justice.
Dialogue Amid West Asia Tensions
The Iranian President also raised concerns over attacks on civilian infrastructure and peaceful nuclear facilities and called for greater attention to the Palestinian right to self-determination.
Dujarric, meanwhile, emphasised the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the continuing instability in the West Bank. He stressed the importance of implementing the peace framework endorsed by the UN Security Council and keeping the objective of a two-state solution in sight.
The Pezeshkian–Sheikh Khaled interaction gains further significance against the backdrop of the New Delhi Declaration 2026, adopted by BRICS leaders on Saturday.
The declaration expressed deep concern over escalating tensions in West Asia and called for maximum restraint and avoidance of actions that could further aggravate the situation. It emphasised protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and greater reliance on dialogue and diplomacy to achieve lasting peace and stability.
BRICS leaders also underlined the importance of maintaining global trade, supply chains and energy flows in accordance with applicable international law.
The declaration voiced serious concern over attacks on peaceful nuclear facilities under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards and stressed the need to uphold nuclear safety, security and safeguards, including during armed conflicts.
On Gaza, the grouping called for implementation of relevant UN resolutions, maintenance of a ceasefire and full and unhindered humanitarian access.
For India, the diplomatic interactions taking place alongside the summit carry significance beyond the formal BRICS agenda. New Delhi maintains important relationships with countries across West Asia, giving it channels of communication with actors whose strategic interests often diverge sharply.
Dujarric’s reference to India as a possible “bridge-builder” therefore highlights a role based not on choosing between competing sides, but on keeping diplomatic channels open.
At a summit built around resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability, the meeting between Pezeshkian and Sheikh Khaled offered another reminder that sometimes the first requirement for resolving a conflict is more fundamental: the willingness to sit across from one another and talk.
