India used its BRICS presidency to promote dialogue as Iran and the United Arab Emirates held a high-level bilateral meeting in New Delhi. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian met UAE Crown Prince Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed on the sidelines of the BRICS summit, according to an official statement from the Iranian embassy. The meeting marked the highest-level Iran-UAE contact since the joint US-Israeli aggression against Iran and subsequent retaliatory strikes by Tehran on US bases in Gulf States, including the UAE. The UAE had not participated directly in the April talks between Iranian officials and US allies in Islamabad.

Iran and the UAE joined other BRICS members in backing a declaration calling for maximum restraint in the Middle East. New Delhi has maintained relations with both Tehran and Abu Dhabi while also preserving its ties with Washington and Israel. On Thursday, Iran's army claimed it had targeted US military infrastructure at Ahmad al-Jaber Air Base in Kuwait and Al Minhad Air Base in the UAE. The statement described the attacks as strikes on satellite communication systems, equipment depots, and fighter aircraft hangars of the 'terrorist US army.' It also mentioned attacks on radar systems and forces at the UAE base.

The UAE has found itself in a difficult position due to the conflict, as it is a BRICS member alongside Iran and Saudi Arabia. Despite being part of the BRICS grouping, the UAE has taken a different stance on the war launched by the US and Israel in February.

The BRICS summit in New Delhi provided a platform for India to act as a peacemaker amid rising tensions in the Middle East. By facilitating dialogue between Iran and the UAE, India sought to de-escalate the situation and promote regional stability. The summit also saw BRICS members endorse a call for restraint, reflecting a broader effort to manage the fallout from the ongoing conflict. However, the exact nature of the Iran-UAE discussions and the implications of the alleged attacks remain unclear.

What remains unknown is the full extent of the Iran-UAE dialogue and the specific outcomes of the BRICS declaration on restraint. The UAE's position within the BRICS grouping and its relationship with the US and Israel are also areas of uncertainty. While the Iranian military has claimed attacks on US bases, the verification of these claims and their impact on regional dynamics are yet to be fully assessed. The situation continues to evolve, with the BRICS summit serving as a key moment in the broader geopolitical landscape of the Middle East.