Brics talks end without joint statement, exposing divisions over war in Iran

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The recent BRICS talks ended without a joint statement, highlighting significant divisions among member countries regarding the ongoing war in Iran. The failure to unify reflects tensions particularly between Iran and the UAE.

Brics talks end without joint statement, exposing divisions over war in Iran Top diplomats from Brics nations, including rivals Iran and the United Arab Emirates, failed to issue a joint statement on Friday after a two-day meeting in Delhi, leaving host India to release only a chair’s statement that exposed their differences. Tehran had wanted the grouping of emerging economies to condemn the US-Israeli war on Iran and accused US ally the UAE of direct involvement in military operations against it. "There were differing views among some members as regards the situation in the West Asia/Middle East region," India said in the statement and outcome document. Without naming the UAE, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told a news conference that a Brics member blocked some parts of the statement. "We have no difficulty with that certain country, they have not been our target in the current war. We only hit American military bases and American military installations which are unfortunately on their soil," he said, adding that he hoped things would change when Brics leaders meet later this year. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi (centre) arrives to attend the Brics foreign ministers’ meeting at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on 14 May 2026 (Arun Sankar/AFP)