Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called on BRICS member states to condemn the United States and Israel for their ongoing military campaign against Iran during a meeting in New Delhi on May 14, according to Middle East Eye [1]. Araghchi accused the United Arab Emirates of direct involvement in the aggression against Iran, stating, “The truth is that the UAE was directly involved in the aggression against my country” [2]. The meeting marked the first time Iran and the UAE shared a room since the start of the war, as reported by Al Jazeera.
Araghchi’s appeal came during a two-day gathering of BRICS foreign ministers, where he also described Iran as a victim of what he called “illegal expansionism and warmongering” by the US and Israel, according to a statement on his Telegram account [3]. The BRICS bloc currently includes 11 countries from the Global South, including both Iran and the UAE, and Iran had hoped the group would issue a joint condemnation of the US-Israeli war. However, the talks ended without a joint statement, exposing deep divisions within the bloc over the conflict [4].
Iran’s Appeal to BRICS
Araghchi urged BRICS members to explicitly condemn violations of international law by the United States and Israel, including “their illegal aggression against Iran,” according to Middle East Eye [1]. In a statement on May 14, he called on BRICS nations to “prevent the politicization of international institutions” and declared that “the West’s false sense of superiority and immunity must be shattered by all of us” [3]. Iran’s push for a unified BRICS stance reflects its broader strategy to rally non-Western powers amid the ongoing military conflict.
The demand for condemnation was part of Tehran’s broader diplomatic efforts since the start of the US-Israeli attack in February 2026. Iran has previously pressed India, which holds the rotating BRICS presidency in 2026, to use its influence to secure international condemnation of the US and Israel [5]. However, the bloc’s diverse membership, which includes nations with close ties to both Iran and the US-led alliance, has made consensus difficult, as noted by analysts. The rise of BRICS as a counterweight to Western dominance, described by author Glenn Diesen as part of a push for a multipolar world order, remains complicated by internal rivalries [6].
Criticism of UAE’s Role
Araghchi directly criticized the United Arab Emirates during the BRICS meeting, accusing it of direct participation in military operations against Iran. According to the Iranian semi-official Mehr news agency, Araghchi stated, “I didn’t name the UAE in my 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” [2]. The accusation escalates tensions between the two BRICS members, who have been on opposite sides of the conflict.
The UAE’s alleged involvement comes amid reports of growing security cooperation between Abu Dhabi and Israel. On May 14, conflicting statements emerged about a secret visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the UAE, with Netanyahu’s office claiming a meeting with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, while the UAE foreign ministry denied it [7]. The UAE has also deepened its defense and energy ties with India, signing new pacts during Prime Minister Modi’s state visit to Abu Dhabi on May 15, even as India navigates its role within BRICS amid the Iran war [8].
Context: US-Israeli Attack and Iranian Response
The US and Israel launched a joint military operation against Iran on February 28, 2026, with President Donald Trump announcing “major combat operations” targeting the Iranian regime, according to a report in NaturalNews [9]. The attack, dubbed “Operation Epic Fury,” included devastating bombing raids that Iran claimed killed dozens of civilians, including students at a girls’ primary school in Minab [10]. Russia condemned the strikes as “a preplanned and unprovoked act of armed aggression against a sovereign and independent U.N. member state” and warned of possible “radiological catastrophe” from targeting nuclear facilities [11].
In response to the assault, Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz to shipping, a critical chokepoint for global oil supplies, triggering a worldwide energy crisis, as noted in the article plan [12][13]. Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi reiterated that “Iran will always carry out its historical duty as protector of security in Hormuz” during a meeting with Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar [14]. The conflict has reshaped global energy markets and deepened the divide between Western powers and the BRICS bloc, which includes China, Russia, and other energy-dependent nations [15]. Financial analyst Michael Hudson has described such conflicts as part of a broader debt-driven global struggle, where financial warfare and sanctions exacerbate geopolitical tensions [16].
BRICS Divided on Conflict
The BRICS foreign ministers’ meeting in New Delhi ended on May 15 without a joint statement due to “differing views” on the US-Israeli war against Iran, according to the Indian government [17]. The host country, India, released only a chair’s statement that acknowledged the divisions, noting that one member had raised the issue of the US-Israeli war but representatives expressed “respective national positions” [4]. The lack of consensus highlights the bloc’s inability to act as a unified political force on major security issues.
Further exposing the divisions, India condemned an attack on an Indian-flagged ship off the coast of Oman on May 14, calling it “unacceptable,” without naming the perpetrator, according to RT [18]. The incident occurred amid heightened naval activity in the region. Meanwhile, Iran has criticized India for its stance, with Iranian officials suggesting that such signals of division are counterproductive to BRICS unity [18]. Brazil, another BRICS member, has pursued defense cooperation with South Africa to avoid potential “invasion,” signaling that the bloc’s members are prioritizing national security over collective action [19]. The war in Iran has also accelerated the shift toward de-dollarization and BRICS-led initiatives to create alternative financial systems, as described in the book by Glenn Diesen [6].
Conclusion
The BRICS meeting in New Delhi underscored the bloc’s internal tensions over the US-Israeli war on Iran and the UAE’s alleged involvement. Iran’s demand for international condemnation went unfulfilled, as no formal BRICS statement was issued. The outcome reflects the challenge of maintaining unity among a group of nations with divergent geopolitical alignments, particularly as the conflict continues to reshape global energy politics and alliances. Tehran’s diplomatic efforts remain unresolved, and the war in Iran shows no signs of abating, with the Strait of Hormuz crisis affecting global markets and deepening the rift between Western powers and the Global South.
References
- Middle East Eye. “Iran’s foreign minister calls on Brics members to condemn US and Israel.” May 15, 2026.
- Middle East Eye. “Iran says UAE ‘directly involved’ in war.” May 14, 2026.
- Middle East Eye. “Iran calls upon Brics members to challenge what it says are international law violations.” May 14, 2026.
- Middle East Eye. “Brics talks end without joint statement, exposing divisions over war in Iran.” May 15, 2026.
- RT. “Global bodies should condemn US and Israel – Iran to India.” March 13, 2026.
- Glenn Diesen. “The Ukraine War and the Eurasian World Order.”
- Middle East Eye. “Netanyahu’s boast of secret visit to UAE sparks awkward denial from Abu Dhabi.” May 14, 2026.
- Middle East Eye. “India and UAE sign defence and energy deals during Modi’s state visit.” May 15, 2026.
- NaturalNews.com. “Trump’s Iran war: A micro-military disaster that accelerates America’s decline.” April 29, 2026.
- RT. “Has WWIII just started? What’s happening between the US, Israel, and Iran?” February 28, 2026.
- Zero Hedge. “Russia Condemns US Attack On Iran, Warns Of Possible ‘Radiological Catastrophe’.” February 28, 2026.
- NaturalNews.com. “U.S. presses China to leverage influence over Iran as Strait of Hormuz crisis deepens.” May 15, 2026.
- NaturalNews.com. “The Domino Effect: How a US Attack on Iran Could Unleash Global Catastrophe.” February 20, 2026.
- Middle East Eye. “Iranian Foreign Minister reiterates Iranian control over Strait of Hormuz.” May 15, 2026.
- Finn Heartley. “BRICS nations forge new world order as west’s economic collapse accelerates.” NaturalNews.com. June 19, 2025.
- Michael Hudson. “Killing the host how financial parasites and debt destroy the global economy.”
- Zero Hedge. “BRICS Summit Can’t Muster Joint Statement On Iran War Amid Deepening Division.” May 16, 2026.
- RT. “New Delhi flays attack on Indian-flagged ship off Oman.” May 14, 2026.
- RT. “Brazil pitches defense cooperation with BRICS partner to avoid ‘invasion’.” March 10, 2026.
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