India is preparing to handle a sensitive diplomatic challenge at the BRICS 2026 summit, with Iran and the UAE arriving in New Delhi with sharply different positions on the ongoing West Asia conflict. As the host and chair of BRICS this year, New Delhi wants to ensure that disagreements between the two countries do not overshadow the grouping’s wider economic agenda. India’s immediate priority is to secure agreement on a joint Delhi Declaration. However, finding common ground could be difficult because Iran and the UAE have taken opposing positions on regional security, military action and maritime trade. The disagreement is not new. BRICS foreign ministers failed to issue a joint statement in May after Iran and the UAE could not agree on language related to the conflict. India eventually had to issue a chair’s statement instead. The dispute also has major economic implications for India. The Strait of Hormuz normally carries about one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies. Since India imports most of the crude oil it consumes, any disruption in the Gulf could have a direct impact on energy prices and the country’s economy.

BRICS 2026: What India Wants From the Summit

India’s main objective at the BRICS 2026 summit is to keep the focus on regional stability while preventing disagreements over West Asia from dividing the group. Top government sources told News18 that India will try to maintain a balance between Iran and the UAE and encourage all sides to prioritise regional stability. “Every party will attack or if one attack other will speak. BRICS is more of an economic forum but UAE-Iran relation points will be raised in name of economic stability. India will balance the ties between both the countries because we are chair this year by saying we are concerned about the regional stability. India’s aim will be to pacify by saying all parties should adhere to regional stability," the sources said. BRICS Sherpas have already been meeting to finalise the Delhi Declaration ahead of the leaders’ summit. Their discussions include differences over references to the West Asia conflict and the Palestinian issue. India is also pushing issues where greater agreement is possible. These include stronger measures against terrorism and reforms of international and multilateral institutions. Other important subjects include trade using national currencies and development projects backed by the New Development Bank (NDB). The summit is also expected to focus on energy security, resilient supply chains and a people-centric approach to economic cooperation. Iran and UAE Take Opposite Positions on West Asia Conflict Iran and the UAE are entering the BRICS 2026 summit with very different priorities. Tehran wants BRICS to condemn US and Israeli military actions and support its claims relating to national sovereignty. Iran is also expected to seek stronger political backing from BRICS members. The UAE, on the other hand, has close ties with the United States and other Gulf countries. Abu Dhabi wants the focus to be on maritime security and the protection of commercial shipping in the Gulf. The differences between Iran and the UAE have become increasingly serious in recent months. The UAE has accused Iran of posing missile and drone threats to maritime routes. In August, Abu Dhabi also suspended trade and financial transactions with Tehran. These tensions have already affected BRICS negotiations. Disagreements led to deadlocks at foreign and trade ministers’ meetings earlier this year, raising concerns that a similar problem could emerge at the leaders’ summit.

India’s Diplomatic Balancing Act Between Iran and UAE

India is now working through BRICS Sherpas to find language that can be accepted by both Iran and the UAE. New Delhi is seeking wording that reaffirms respect for national sovereignty, opposes the use of force and supports freedom of navigation in the Gulf. At the same time, India wants to avoid directly naming individual countries or assigning blame. The proposed approach also emphasises dialogue and de-escalation. This would allow BRICS to express concern about the regional situation without issuing a direct condemnation that either Iran or the UAE might reject. This diplomatic strategy could help India prevent the West Asia dispute from becoming the defining issue of the summit.

BRICS 2026 Agenda: Trade, Energy and Supply Chains

India is also trying to focus the summit on areas where BRICS members are more likely to find common ground. Key areas include: Trade and investment Supply-chain resilience Digital public infrastructure Start-up and incubator networks Energy transition Development finance through the New Development Bank Reform of multilateral institutions Counter-terrorism cooperation By prioritising these subjects, India can keep the BRICS 2026 agenda centred on economic and development issues rather than allowing the Iran-UAE dispute to dominate discussions. The published agenda also appears designed to avoid some of the most divisive security issues, including detailed references to the crisis surrounding the Strait of Hormuz.

Can India’s Bilateral Diplomacy Resolve the Iran-UAE Differences?

India is using more than formal BRICS negotiations to address the disagreements between Iran and the UAE. Bilateral and smaller diplomatic channels are also being used ahead of the leaders’ meeting. Special representatives have held discussions in New Delhi to fine-tune the Delhi Declaration and narrow differences over references to West Asia and Palestine. Russia has publicly expressed optimism that the BRICS members can reach a consensus. Moscow has also offered to help normalise relations, giving India additional diplomatic room to work towards compromise language. New Delhi is also holding separate discussions with Tehran, Abu Dhabi and other Gulf partners. The aim is to assure each side that its core concerns are reflected in principle, even if the final declaration does not mention individual countries. This could allow India to maintain a neutral position while still recognising the concerns of both Iran and the UAE.

Why the Strait of Hormuz Matters to India

The Strait of Hormuz is central to India’s diplomatic calculations because of its importance to global energy supplies. Any major escalation that disrupts shipping through the strait could push international oil prices higher. For India, higher crude prices could significantly increase the country’s import bill. The Gulf is important to India beyond energy security. It is also a major market for Indian exports and an important source of remittances. Millions of Indian workers live and work across Gulf countries. This means New Delhi has strong economic and strategic reasons to avoid appearing to side against Iran or key Arab partners. The latest deterioration in Iran-UAE relations followed the 2026 US-Iran war. Tensions increased further after the UAE accused Iran of launching ballistic missiles towards its territory and maritime traffic. In mid-August, the UAE announced an indefinite suspension of trade, commercial exchanges and financial transactions with Iran.

How the Iran-UAE Rift Escalated in 2026

The wider conflict began with US-Israeli military operations against Iran on February 28, 2026. Iran retaliated with missile and drone strikes targeting US military bases and energy infrastructure across the Gulf. The attacks affected or threatened areas in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq, Oman and Jordan. The conflict also caused major disruption to transport and trade. Dubai International Airport was damaged by drone strikes during the early stages of the war, leading to flight suspensions. Shipping companies also rerouted vessels to avoid the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea. On August 18-19, the UAE said its air defence systems detected two ballistic missiles launched from Iran towards maritime traffic. According to Abu Dhabi, one missile fell inside UAE territorial waters. Citing “regional escalations that undermine regional and international peace and security", the UAE foreign ministry announced that trade, commercial exchanges and financial transactions with Iran would be suspended “until further notice". Iran has denied launching missiles at the UAE. Some Iranian statements have suggested that the incident could have been a “false flag" operation.

UAE Raises Concerns Over Attacks on Commercial Shipping

The UAE has taken a strong position against attacks on commercial vessels in the region. After attacks on ships affiliated with ADNOC in the Strait of Hormuz, Abu Dhabi described the incidents as a “flagrant violation" of UN Security Council Resolution 2817. The resolution supports freedom of navigation and rejects attacks on commercial vessels or attempts to obstruct international maritime routes. The UAE said using the Strait of Hormuz for “economic coercion or blackmail" amounted to “acts of piracy by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps". Abu Dhabi warned that such actions could threaten regional stability and global energy security. The UAE called for an immediate end to hostilities and demanded the complete and unconditional reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

UAE Condemns Iranian Attack on Saudi Carrier

Tensions increased again after an Iranian attack on the Saudi carrier Sidr in the Strait of Hormuz in early September. The UAE condemned the incident, describing it as a serious threat to international navigation and a dangerous escalation. Abu Dhabi expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia and backed measures aimed at protecting its vessels and national interests. The UAE has also rejected reports in Iranian state media about attacks on US facilities at Al Minhad Air Base, describing them as “false". Its defence ministry said its air force had engaged an Iranian drone detected over UAE territorial waters after approaching from Iran.

BRICS 2026 Summit in New Delhi: What Is at Stake for India?

India will host the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12 and 13. The official theme is “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability". For New Delhi, the summit will be an important test of its ability to manage competing interests within BRICS. India needs to ensure that the Iran-UAE dispute does not derail the broader economic agenda. At the same time, it must protect its own interests in energy security, trade, supply chains and relations with Gulf countries. A carefully worded Delhi Declaration could be the key. India is likely to support language on sovereignty, freedom of navigation, regional stability and dialogue while avoiding direct blame against either Iran or the UAE. If New Delhi succeeds in achieving consensus despite the deep differences between the two countries, it could strengthen India’s image as a diplomatic bridge within BRICS and demonstrate its ability to balance strategic relationships during a major regional crisis.