Iran President meets Abu Dhabi Crown Prince amid West Asia hostilities - The Hindu

**Iranian President Meets Abu Dhabi Crown Prince on BRICS Sidelines Amid West‑Asia Hostilities**

*Johannesburg, 22 Sept 2024* – On the margins of the BRICS summit in South Africa, Iranian President **Ebrahim Raisi** and United Arab Emirates Crown Prince **Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan** held a high‑level bilateral meeting that underscored a rare diplomatic overture between Tehran and Abu Dhabi amid a flare‑up of hostilities across West Asia. The two leaders exchanged greetings, reviewed the escalation of the Israel‑Gaza conflict, the ongoing war in Yemen, and the broader security volatility that has strained Gulf‑Iranian ties for years. Both sides voiced a “shared interest in regional stability” and agreed to keep diplomatic channels open, signalling a possible thaw in relations that have been punctuated by mutual suspicion since the 2010s.

The talks were conducted against the backdrop of the **BRICS** gathering, where member states have been pushing for deeper economic integration as a counter‑balance to Western‑led sanctions. Iran, still grappling with the full force of U.S. secondary sanctions, called for the expansion of **intra‑BRICS trade in national currencies**, urging the bloc to develop mechanisms that reduce reliance on the dollar and mitigate the impact of external pressure. The UAE, a long‑standing hub for regional commerce, welcomed the dialogue and hinted at exploring joint projects in energy, logistics, and technology, suggesting that economic pragmatism could help bridge political gaps.

India, positioned as a neutral facilitator, has sought to leverage its “bridge‑builder” role. President **Droupadi Murmu** met separately with Iran’s senior diplomat **Ali Pezeshkian** and reaffirmed New Delhi’s support for diplomatic solutions, echoing the United Nations’ commendation of the Tehran‑Abu Dhabi engagement. Murmu stressed that India stands ready to assist “any constructive initiative that reduces tensions and promotes dialogue” in the region, reflecting New Delhi’s broader strategy of balancing its strategic partnership with both Iran and the Gulf states while deepening its own ties within BRICS. Observers note that India’s active diplomatic presence could prove pivotal if the two sides move beyond rhetoric to concrete confidence‑building measures.