UAE and Iranian Presidents Hold First Talks Since the War at BRICS Summit in India

Key facts

• Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Sunday during the BRICS summit in India, marking the countries' highest-level meeting since the start of the US-Israel war with Iran.
• The talks followed the UAE's announcement on 19 August that it had halted all trade and financial transactions with Iran until further notice, citing regional escalation.
• Both countries are members of BRICS, the group of emerging economies that includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
• The two leaders backed the summit's New Delhi Declaration, adopted on Saturday, which expressed concern over escalating tensions in the Middle East, called for maximum restraint, and urged protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure.
• The New Delhi Declaration also criticised unilateral tariffs and sanctions and supported further work on international payments and trade using members' own currencies.
• Pezeshkian said Arab foreign ministers were due to meet in Muscat on Monday to sign an agreement establishing a joint Iran-Oman shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz.
• Iran had announced on 5 August that it had agreed the location of a proposed shipping route with Oman, and Pezeshkian said Iran would reopen the strait when the United States ended its blockade and attacks.
• On Sunday, Qeshm governor Amir Teymouri said one person was killed after a merchant vessel was struck near Iran's Hengam and Qeshm islands.