Iran Calls on BRICS Nations to Condemn US-Israeli War as Bloc Grapples with Internal UAE Rift
At New Delhi meeting, Foreign Minister Araghchi urges Global South to shatter “Western sense of superiority” while publicly accusing fellow BRICS member UAE of direct military involvement in aggression against Tehran
NEW DELHI — Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi issued an urgent appeal to all BRICS member states on Thursday, calling on the bloc to “explicitly condemn violations of international law by the United States and Israel” over their military campaign against the Islamic Republic .
Addressing the two-day BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in the Indian capital, Araghchi positioned Iran as a “victim of illegal expansionism and warmongering” and urged the grouping of major emerging economies to resist what he described as “Western hegemony and the sense of impunity that the US believes it is entitled to” .
However, the Iranian appeal was dramatically overshadowed by an extraordinary public confrontation between Araghchi and the representative of the United Arab Emirates — also a BRICS member — exposing a deep and potentially irreparable rift within the bloc. Araghchi accused the UAE of being “directly involved in the aggression against my country,” marking a rare moment of open confrontation between officials of the two nations since the war began on February 28 .
“The West’s False Sense of Superiority Must Be Shattered”
Speaking at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, where foreign ministers from the expanded 11-member bloc had gathered under India’s chairship, Araghchi delivered a sweeping indictment of US and Israeli policy while framing Iran’s struggle as part of a broader battle for the Global South .
“Declining imperialist powers are seeking to turn back the clock and are reacting with desperation and aggression as they seek to downgrade,” Araghchi told the gathering . “What was once an ambitious ideal has become a reality, but it is a fragile one.”
The Iranian foreign minister emphasized that his country’s confrontation with Western powers was not merely about Tehran but about defending all BRICS nations and the “new world” the bloc was building together .
“That false sense of entitlement must be shattered by all of us,” Araghchi declared, referring to what he described as America’s perceived immunity from international law . “Iran, therefore, calls upon BRICS member states and all responsible members of the international community to explicitly condemn violations of international law by the United States and Israel, including their illegal aggression against Iran” .
He further called on the bloc to “prevent the politicization of international institutions and take concrete action to halt warmongering” .
Iran’s Message to the US: “Ready to Fight, But Will Defend Diplomacy”
Araghchi used the BRICS platform to deliver a direct message to Washington, asserting that Iran would never bow to pressure while remaining open to diplomatic engagement .
“It ought to be clear that Iran is unbreakable and only emerges stronger and more united when under pressure,” he said. “While ready to fight with everything we have in defense of our freedom and our soil, we are equally ready to pursue and defend diplomacy” .
He rejected the notion of a military solution to any issue involving Iran. “As I have repeatedly stated, there is no such thing as a military solution to anything related to Iran. We Iranians never bow to any pressure or threat, but we reciprocate the language of respect” .
The UAE Accusation: A Rare Public Confrontation
The diplomatic firestorm in New Delhi reached its peak when Araghchi, in a departure from his prepared remarks, publicly accused the United Arab Emirates of direct military involvement in the US-Israeli war against Iran .
“I didn’t name the UAE in my [BRICS] statement for the sake of unity,” Iranian state media quoted Araghchi as saying. “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” .
The accusation came in response to remarks by the Emirati representative, Deputy Foreign Minister Khalifa Shaheen Al Marar, though Iranian media did not specify what the UAE official had said . Araghchi later doubled down on the accusation in a post on Telegram: “The UAE is an active partner in this aggression, and there is no doubt about it” .
This public rebuke marks an extraordinary moment in the BRICS gathering, as both Iran and the UAE are member states of the bloc, which operates strictly by consensus. The confrontation threatens to derail any possibility of a joint communique emerging from the meeting .
The Context: UAE’s Alleged Role in the War
Araghchi’s accusation did not emerge in a vacuum. Recent reports have fueled Iranian suspicions about Emirati military involvement in the conflict:
| Allegation | Source |
|---|---|
| The UAE carried out its own military operations on Iran in early April | The Wall Street Journal |
| The UAE hosted Israeli Iron Dome batteries and IDF personnel during the war | Multiple reports |
| The UAE was the most heavily targeted country by Iranian strikes, intercepting 2,845 projectiles | UAE Ministry of Defense |
The UAE was represented at the BRICS meeting by Deputy Foreign Minister Khalifa Shaheen Al Marar, and it remains unclear how or whether the Emirati delegation responded to Araghchi’s accusations .
The diplomatic confrontation in New Delhi comes just one day after the UAE categorically denied a statement by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he had secretly visited the Gulf nation during the war — a claim that Abu Dhabi called “entirely unfounded” .
The BRICS Dilemma: Consensus Under Strain
The open rift between Iran and the UAE presents a significant challenge for the BRICS bloc, which prides itself on operating by consensus among its members .
According to Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi, there have been “problems and communications” due to the UAE’s presence, raising doubts about whether a final joint communique will be issued . A consensus statement would require agreement from all 11 members — including two nations that are effectively on opposing sides of an active war.
The expanded BRICS grouping now comprises:
| Original Members | New Members (Joined 2024-2025) |
|---|---|
| Brazil | Egypt |
| Russia | Ethiopia |
| India | Iran |
| China | UAE |
| South Africa | Indonesia |
Together, these nations represent approximately 49.5 percent of the global population, around 40 percent of global GDP, and about 26 percent of global trade .
The Global Stakes: Why This Matters
The BRICS meeting is taking place against the backdrop of a war that has disrupted global energy markets and reshaped alliances across the Middle East. The conflict began on February 28 with US and Israeli strikes against Iran, followed by Iranian retaliation that included missile and drone attacks on US bases and allied Gulf countries .
Impact on Global Energy
India, as the current BRICS chair, has been one of the parties most severely affected by Iran’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz since the war began. The waterway normally handles approximately one-fifth of global oil shipments, and its blockade has triggered one of the biggest supply disruptions in recent history .
India — the world’s third-biggest oil importer and a major user of the strait — has suffered significant supply disruptions and has lost sailors in attacks on ships in the Gulf .
The Ceasefire Stalemate
A tenuous ceasefire brokered through Pakistani mediation took effect on April 8. However, diplomatic efforts have failed to make progress toward resolving the war, which has cost thousands of lives and driven up prices of oil and other key commodities around the world .
Iran has demanded compensation for war damage, an end to the US blockade of Iranian ports, and a halt to fighting on all fronts, including in Lebanon where Israel is battling Iran-backed Hezbollah. US President Donald Trump has dismissed Tehran’s positions as “garbage” .
Iran’s Broader Message to the Global South
Beyond the immediate call for condemnation, Araghchi used the BRICS platform to articulate a broader vision of a new world order led by the Global South .
“Over the past year, I have had the honour of attending two BRICS summits to express the Iranian government’s belief that this mechanism symbolises the emergence of a new world order, one in which the Global South is one of the main architects of the world’s future,” he said .
He argued that many countries in the BRICS grouping were familiar with “American bullying” and coercive pressure, and that such practices belonged to the past and should be collectively challenged .
“History has shown that Empires in decline will stop at nothing to arrest their inevitable fates. A wounded animal will desperately claw and roar on its way down,” Araghchi warned .
India’s Balancing Act
As the host and current chair of BRICS for 2026, India finds itself in a delicate diplomatic position. India’s partnership with the UAE is deepening across multiple fronts, while its historical ties with Iran include the strategic Chabahar port project .
Speaking at the opening of the conclave, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar acknowledged the challenging context: “We meet at a time of considerable flux in international relations” . He underlined the need to find “practical ways” to better navigate the fallout of geopolitical upheavals and trade disruptions while emphasizing the critical importance of dialogue and diplomacy in resolving global conflicts .
Earlier this week, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi had expressed hope that India’s BRICS chairship would be successful, while also acknowledging internal divisions. “It is not a good approach to send a signal to the world that BRICS is divided,” he said.
What to Watch in the Coming Days
As the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting concludes on Friday, several key developments bear watching:
- The Joint Communique: Whether the foreign ministers can overcome their differences to issue a consensus statement will test the bloc’s ability to function as a unified political force. Iranian media have already raised doubts about whether a final communique will be issued .
- The Iran-UAE Rift: The public confrontation in New Delhi may have lasting consequences for relations between the two Gulf nations and for internal BRICS dynamics.
- India’s Diplomatic Role: As chair, India’s ability to navigate between its various partnerships will be closely watched by both Western and Global South nations.
- The Ceasefire’s Future: With Israeli officials declaring readiness to resume military operations, the diplomatic window for resolving the conflict may be closing.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: What did Iran request from BRICS nations at the New Delhi meeting?
A: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called on all BRICS member states to “explicitly condemn violations of international law by the United States and Israel,” including what he described as “illegal aggression against Iran.” He urged the bloc to resist “Western hegemony” and help shatter America’s “false sense of entitlement” and immunity from international law .
Q2: Did Iran directly accuse the UAE at the BRICS meeting?
A: Yes. While Araghchi did not name the UAE in his formal opening statement “for the sake of unity,” he later publicly accused the UAE of being “directly involved in the aggression against my country.” He stated that when the attacks on Iran began, the UAE “didn’t even issue a condemnation.” He doubled down on the accusation on Telegram, writing: “The UAE is an active partner in this aggression, and there is no doubt about it” .
Q3: Why is there tension between Iran and the UAE within BRICS?
A: The UAE and Iran find themselves on opposing sides of the ongoing war that began on February 28 when the US and Israel launched strikes against Iran. According to multiple reports, the UAE has provided military cooperation to Israel during the conflict, including hosting Israeli Iron Dome batteries and reportedly carrying out its own military operations on Iranian territory. Iran, in turn, has launched missile and drone strikes against the UAE, which was the most heavily targeted country in the region during the war .
Q4: Will BRICS issue a joint statement on the Iran war?
A: It remains uncertain. BRICS operates strictly by consensus, and the open rift between Iran and the UAE — both member states — presents a significant obstacle. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi has acknowledged “problems and communications” due to the UAE’s presence, and Iranian media have raised doubts about whether a final communique will be issued. Without consensus, the bloc may issue a chair’s summary rather than a joint statement .
Q5: What is Iran’s position on a military solution to the conflict?
A: Araghchi explicitly rejected any military solution to issues involving Iran, stating: “As I have repeatedly stated, there is no such thing as a military solution to anything related to Iran. We Iranians never bow to any pressure or threat, but we reciprocate the language of respect.” However, he also warned that Iran’s armed forces remain “ready to exact devastating retribution on foreign aggressors” .
Q6: Is Iran open to diplomacy despite the war?
A: Yes. Araghchi stated: “While ready to fight with everything we have in defense of our freedom and our soil, we are equally ready to pursue and defend diplomacy.” This dual posture — military readiness combined with diplomatic openness — has characterized Iran’s approach throughout the conflict .
Q7: When did the US-Israeli war against Iran begin?
A: The war began on February 28, 2026, when the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes against Iranian territory. The strikes included the assassination of senior Iranian officials and commanders, including Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, according to Iranian state media .
Q8: How does this affect India as the BRICS chair?
A: India faces a delicate balancing act. As BRICS chair for 2026, New Delhi is hosting the foreign ministers’ meeting and hopes to present the bloc as a unified voice for the Global South. However, India also has deepening partnerships with both Iran (including the strategic Chabahar port project) and the UAE (a major trade and energy partner). The open confrontation between the two nations at the New Delhi meeting puts India in a challenging diplomatic position .
This is a developing story. Reflecto News will continue to provide updates on the outcome of the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and any joint statement or chair’s summary issued by the bloc.