UAE and Iran leaders meet at the BRICS summit for the first time since the war

Key Points:

• Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan met Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian at the BRICS summit in India, marking the highest-level meeting since the US-Israel war with Iran began, despite the UAE's recent suspension of trade and financial dealings with Tehran.
• Both leaders emphasized the importance of reducing regional tensions and strengthening stability, while the UAE reiterated that rebuilding trust with Iran will require actions, not just words, and maintained its trade restrictions without announcing any changes.
• The BRICS summit’s New Delhi Declaration called for maximum restraint in the Middle East, protection of civilians and infrastructure, respect for sovereignty, and cooperation to maintain global trade and energy flows, with China committing to work towards regional peace.
• Iranian president Pezeshkian announced plans for an Iran-Oman joint shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz, a move opposed by Gulf countries including the UAE, which insists on free international navigation and opposes any single state's control over the strategic waterway.
• Pezeshkian highlighted the negative impact of unilateral sanctions on food security and welfare, called for increased use of national currencies in trade, and stated Iran would reopen the Strait of Hormuz only after the US ends its blockade and attacks, without specifying a timeline.