Iran and UAE leaders meet at BRICS summit amid West Asia war

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan held a meeting on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12, 2026. The meeting marked the first known face-to-face interaction between the leaders since the West Asia war began on February 28, 2026. The two leaders exchanged views on regional and international developments, emphasizing the need for greater efforts to de-escalate tensions and prevent further escalation in West Asia. They also discussed strengthening regional stability and creating conditions conducive to peace and development across the region. The meeting occurred as BRICS members overcame sharp divisions to adopt the New Delhi Declaration 2026, which expressed deep concern over the continued escalation of tensions in West Asia. The joint declaration called for exercising maximum restraint and avoiding actions that could further aggravate the situation.