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UAE President and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on September 13, 2026, on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in New Delhi, India.

The meeting came at a time when relations between the UAE and Iran have been strained by Tehran’s attacks on Gulf states and wider regional tensions.

The Abu Dhabi Media Office said the two leaders discussed regional and international issues, including efforts to reduce tensions, strengthen stability, and advance regional peace and development.

The meeting did not produce a publicly announced agreement or indicate that the UAE had reversed its restrictions on trade and financial transactions with Iran. The talks nevertheless represent an important diplomatic development.

Despite the conflict and growing security concerns, Abu Dhabi and Tehran have maintained channels of communication, reflecting the importance of geography and regional economic ties.

The UAE’s diplomatic approach has been shaped by the need to manage relations with Iran while protecting its own security and economic interests. Presidential diplomatic adviser Anwar Gargash recently described rebuilding trust with Iran as a difficult task.

“Trust is the mountain we will have to climb,” Gargash said, adding that “geography leaves us no alternative to engagement.”

He also stressed that future relations would have to be judged by actions rather than words, reflecting the UAE’s position that diplomatic engagement alone would not be enough to restore confidence.

UAE Suspended Trade and Financial Dealings with Iran

On August 19, the UAE Foreign Ministry announced that it had halted all trade and financial transactions with Iran until further notice. The decision was made in response to regional escalation and followed attacks on Gulf countries during the conflict.

The suspension marked a significant step in Abu Dhabi’s response to the deteriorating regional security environment. The UAE has sought to protect its economic activity and international trade links while facing growing risks from the conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel.

Iran has launched repeated attacks on the UAE during the war. In late August, it targeted Al Minhad Air Base, which housed U.S. forces and helicopters.

The attacks have deepened concerns in Abu Dhabi over the possibility of being drawn further into a wider regional conflict. However, the UAE has continued to support dialogue and regional cooperation.

The meeting in New Delhi suggests that, despite the suspension of economic dealings, diplomatic channels remain open.

BRICS Declaration Calls for Restraint

The meeting took place as BRICS leaders adopted a joint declaration calling for restraint in the Middle East.

Iran and the UAE are both members of BRICS, the grouping that includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, alongside newer members including Egypt, Ethiopia and Indonesia.

The New Delhi Declaration expressed deep concern over the continued escalation of tensions in the Middle East and called for “maximum restraint” to prevent further deterioration.

The declaration urged the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, respect for national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and a lasting settlement through diplomacy. It also called for efforts to protect global trade, supply chains, energy flows and maritime security.

The agreement was seen as a sign of diplomatic progress between Iran and the UAE, which remain divided over the conflict and its regional consequences.

The joint statement also reflected the wider interests of BRICS members in maintaining economic stability. Leaders called for cooperation to keep trade and energy moving, while supporting international payments and trade using national currencies.

The declaration criticized unilateral tariffs and sanctions and backed a stronger role for the New Development Bank, the financial institution established by BRICS countries.

Iran and Oman Discuss Strait of Hormuz Shipping Route

The meeting came amid separate tensions over the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy routes.

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. Iran had already announced on August 5 that it had agreed with Oman on the location of a proposed shipping route.

The Iranian president said the International Maritime Organization would be informed of the agreement. However, the proposed arrangement has not resolved the wider dispute over navigation through the waterway.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei previously said that the agreement alone could not guarantee safe navigation while the U.S. naval blockade and other actions against Iran continued.

Pezeshkian also said Iran would reopen the strait when the United States ended its blockade and attacks, but did not provide a date for reopening the waterway.

The UAE has strongly opposed any attempt by a single state to control the strategic passage. Gargash said the UAE would not accept a situation in which oil tankers were threatened or attacked while attempting to transit the strait. “Our energy exports will not be held hostage, nor will our trade and economic activity,” he said.

The UAE’s position reflects its dependence on secure maritime routes for energy exports and international commerce. Any disruption to the Strait of Hormuz could affect regional economies and global energy markets.

BRICS Seeks Greater Role in Regional Diplomacy

The UAE-Iran meeting also highlighted BRICS’ growing role as a platform for diplomatic engagement. The summit has brought together leaders including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Modi said BRICS had come of age and should translate its unity and consensus into concrete results on the global stage. The grouping is seeking to increase its influence over international economic and political institutions, including the World Bank, International Monetary Fund and World Trade Organization.

Xi called on BRICS countries to stand on the right side of history by steering the international order toward greater equity and justice. He also said China was ready to play its “due role” in achieving peace and stability in the Middle East.

“Relevant parties must remain committed to a political settlement and work towards achieving a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire,” Xi said, according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV.

The summit has also provided a platform for India to maintain diplomatic engagement with countries on opposing sides of the conflict.

Former Indian ambassador to the UAE, Sunjay Sudhir, said India had helped keep difficult conversations going by showing that regional countries could sit at the same table and work on shared interests. “The key to ending the war lies with the U.S. and Israel,” he added.

🇮🇷🇦🇪 Iran and UAE hold highest-level talks since the conflict began on the sidelines of the BRICS summit.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian met Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Khaled bin Mohamed Al Nahyan. They discussed de-escalation and regional stability.https://t.co/ureMGWuTEC pic.twitter.com/fh0U26XcGL

— IRIA (@IRIA_Research) September 13, 2026

The UAE-Iran meeting does not signal that the two countries have resolved their differences. The suspension of trade and financial dealings remains a major obstacle, while attacks and disagreements over regional security continue to shape their relationship.