Iran, UAE hold first talks at BRICS summit since conflict began

What the report says

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian met Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Khaled bin Mohamed Al Nahyan at the BRICS summit, marking the first high-level talks between Iran and the United Arab Emirates since the conflict began. According to Al Jazeera, the encounter took place on the sidelines of the summit and was presented as a notable diplomatic step after a period of heightened tensions.

The article says both sides supported calls for restraint, even as Iranian attacks on the UAE remained part of the broader backdrop. The meeting suggests that regional states are still seeking channels for dialogue despite the continuing conflict and the strain it has placed on relations among Gulf countries.

Al Jazeera also reported that Bahrain declined to meet with Pezeshkian, underscoring that diplomatic responses in the region are not uniform. The summit setting gave the talks added significance because BRICS gatherings often bring together leaders who may not otherwise meet directly.

More broadly, the development matters because talks between rival or cautious regional partners can signal efforts to limit escalation and preserve political contact. In this case, the meeting appears to have been an early sign of renewed engagement, though the underlying tensions were not resolved by the summit encounter.