India will host a crucial Brics meeting bringing Iran and the UAE face to face for the first time since the start of West Asia conflict, with focus on regional tensions, Gulf stability, and efforts to build consensus among member nations.
India, under its
Brics presidency, is set to host a key meeting of senior officials that will bring the UAE and Iran together for the first time since the West Asian conflict.
The discussions will cover broader issues across West Asia and North Africa, including Palestine, Syria, Yemen and Lebanon.
However,
the focus is expected to remain on the ongoing conflict and its implications for Gulf nations, with Iran, the UAE and Saudi Arabia all part of Brics.
Earlier, Brics failed to issue a joint statement on the war due to differences between Iran and the UAE.
West Asia conflict
The meeting comes at a time when at least three member countries are directly involved in the West Asia conflict, as a result of
US-Israeli strikes on Iran in February.
The war has triggered a massive energy crisis with global repercussions due to a military blockade in the Strait of Hormuz and attacks on major oil sites in the Persian Gulf.
Failed talks in Islamabad
However,
US Vice President JD Vance said on Sunday that talks with Iran failed to produce an agreement, adding that he was departing from Islamabad after presenting what he called a “final and best offer.”
He indicated that Washington is still giving Tehran time to consider the proposal. He noted that the United States had earlier paused joint attacks with Israel for two weeks to create space for diplomacy.
India – the host state
As host, India is working to ensure smooth proceedings and build consensus among member nations. Egypt, a Brics member and India’s strategic partner, is supporting these efforts ahead of upcoming engagements, including the foreign ministers’ meeting in May and the summit in September.
Egypt backs India
Egypt’s ambassador to India, Kamel Zayed Galal, expressed confidence in India’s diplomatic approach, noting that Egypt would assist in ensuring Brics presents a unified stance on the crisis, which continues to impact global peace, stability and economic supply chains.
“Despite the complexity of the situation in the Middle East, I am confident that the wisdom of Indian diplomacy will be able to safely sail through the upcoming meeting of the special envoys on the Middle East later this month.”
“Having said that, Egypt, as key anchor of stability in the region, and with an extended experience in navigating through turbulent security and political regional landscape, will provide the Indian chairship of Brics all needed assistance and advice to ensure that Brics is capable of speaking with one voice, and a shared position, towards the root causes of one of the most dangerous challenges to international peace and stability, and strains on global economy supply and value added chains,” Zayed told Economic Times.
Russia has also extended its support to India’s presidency.
Brics condemned military strikes against Iran
Under Brazil’s presidency, the 2025 Brics Declaration had condemned military strikes against Iran since June 13, 2025, calling them a violation of international law and raising concern over the escalating security situation in the Middle East.
“We condemn the military strikes against the Islamic Republic of Iran since 13 June 2025, which constitute a violation of international law and the Charter of the United Nations, and express grave concern over the subsequent escalation of the security situation in the Middle East,” it said.
First Published:
April 13, 2026, 06:05 IST
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