Iran and UAE clash at BRICS foreign ministers' meeting

'But the truth is that the UAE was directly involved in the aggression against my country,' FM Araghchi says

Iran’s foreign ministeraccused the United Arab Emiratesof direct involvement in military operations against the country during a BRICS meeting in New Delhi on Thursday. Iranian state media reported.

The dispute comes a day after the UAE denied a statement by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. he had visited the Gulf country during the Iran war. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi had earlier reacted by saying. “those colluding with Israel to sow division will be held to account.”

“I didn’t name the UAE in my (BRICS) statement for the sake of unity. But the truth is that the UAE was directly involved in the aggression against my country. When the attacks started. they didn’t even issue a condemnation,” Iranian state media quoted Araqchi as saying on in response to comments made by the Emirati representative.

Iranian state media did not specify what the Emirati representative had said.

According to the reports, Araqchi argued that neither US bases nor an alliance with Israel provided the UAE with security. that it should reconsider its policy toward Iran.

“We must live side by side in peace,. this requires peaceful relations and complete understanding between the two countries,” Araqchi added.

Later. Araqchi told the gathering that the UAE was “directly involved in the aggression against my country”, Iran’s semi-officialMehrnews agency reported. The UAE was represented at the meeting by Deputy Foreign Minister Khalifa Shaheen Al Marar.

Read More:Iran war and oil dominate BRICS meet in India

Araghchi also referred to what Israel has described as a "secret" meeting in the UAE during the war between Netanyahu. UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, avisit Abu Dhabi has denied took place.

"It also became clear that they participated in these attacks and may have even acted directly against us," he added.

Relations between Iran. the UAE have been strained sinceFebruary 28when US-Israeli attacks triggered Iranian retaliatory strikes against Israel and US allies in the Gulf, including the UAE.

The Iran war began with US and Israeli strikes against Iran on Feb. 28, with Tehran responding by firing missiles and drones at US bases and other targets in Gulf countries.

The Wall Street Journalreported on Monday that the UAE carried out military operations against Iran in early April. Saudi Arabia has also launched numerous unpublicised strikes against Iran, according to Western and Iranian officials.

Iranian media have raised doubts over whether participants at the BRICS foreign ministers’ meeting in India will be able to issue a final communique because of differences between Iran. the UAE. Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi was cited as saying there were “problems and communications” due to the UAE’s presence.

Iran war and oil on the agenda

BRICS foreign ministers, including Iran's Abbas Araghchi. Russia's Sergei Lavrov, met in New Delhi on Thursday, where India warned of "considerable flux," with conflict driving economic uncertainty and energy insecurity.

India, which holds the BRICS chair this year, was hosting the foreign ministers from the expanded bloc, which now includes Iran, Saudi Arabia. the United Arab Emirates, countries at odds over the conflict launched by the United States and Israel on February 28.

"We meet at a time of considerable flux in international relations," India's Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said in his opening speech. before closed meetings began. Among the foreign ministers attending were Iran's Abbas Araghchi and Russia's Sergei Lavrov.

"Ongoing conflicts, economic uncertainties, and challenges in trade, technology, and climate are shaping the global landscape," Jaishankar added.

Read:Tehran calls on BRICS members to condemn US-Israeli aggression on Iran: Iranian FM

"There is a growing expectation, particularly from emerging markets. developing countries, that BRICS will play a constructive and stabilising role."

Disruptions around Gulf shipping routes. the Strait of Hormuzcontinue to drive volatility in oil and gas markets, increasing pressure on energy-importing economies, including India. "Development issues remain central," Jaishankar added. "Many countries continue to face challenges on energy, food, fertiliser and health security, as well as access to finance."

'Volatile global environment'

The conflict involving Iran has added strain to India's economy, which is reliant on Middle Eastern energy supplies. fertiliser imports, and has cast uncertainty over New Delhi's growth outlook.

India. the world's third-largest oil buyer, normally sources about half of its crude through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway that has been repeatedly blocked since the war began.

Ship tracking. import data show that India had partially plugged the gap by turning to old allies, expanding promising ties and reviving suppliers it had not tapped in years. The biggest backstop has been Russian crude. a fuel source New Delhi spent much of the past year trying to pivot away from under stiff US tariffs.

Read More:New Delhi says attack that sank Indian-flagged ship off Oman’s coast ‘unacceptable’

Jaishankar met with Lavrov on Wednesday evening. "Our political cooperation is even more valuable in an uncertain. volatile global environment," Jaishankar said in remarks at the meeting, adding that discussions included "trade and investment, energy and connectivity".

BRICSwas created in 2009 as a forum for major emerging economies seeking greater influence in institutions dominated by Western powers. The grouping, originally comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China. South Africa, has since expanded, as members sought to boost the bloc's global political and economic influence.

It now includes Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia and the UAE. China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi was not attending, with US President Donald Trump in Beijing on Thursday.

India will hold a leaders' summit later this year,. the foreign ministers will also meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the foreign ministry said.

With deep divisions among some members, including over the Middle East war. criticism of Western powers, it was not clear whether a joint statement would be released at the meeting's end.

"We will let you know as things progress," India's foreign ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal told reporters.

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