Full Breakdown
BRICS Summit and Gulf Diplomacy Amid Rising Iran Conflict
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Diplomatic Activity at the New Delhi BRICS Summit
The 18th BRICS summit convened in New Delhi, bringing together leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa and new members including Iran and the United Arab Emirates. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to discuss regional security and trade. On the sidelines, UAE Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan met President Pezeshkian, while Oman prepared to host a Gulf-Iran meeting. Simultaneously, Saudi Arabia shut down its East-West oil pipeline after strikes damaged the line in the Hejaz region, injuring several people.
Background & Context
The Iran-related conflict has intensified across Iraq, Yemen and the Red Sea, prompting Gulf states to seek de-escalation channels. Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and Iranian-backed militias in Iraq have heightened Saudi security concerns, leading Riyadh to halt the pipeline as a precaution. BRICS, now expanded to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran and the UAE, is positioning itself as a forum for dialogue on the “Middle East and West Asia” situation, urging restraint while members retain divergent national positions.
Timeline
- September 11 – Satellite imagery shows damage to Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline in the Hejaz region.
- September 11 – Modi meets Putin and Pezeshkian in New Delhi, underscoring India’s diplomatic balancing act.
- September 12 – Bahrain announced it will not attend the Oman-hosted Gulf-Iran meeting.
- September 12 – Oman hosts Iran and Gulf states (including Qatar and Kuwait) to discuss the Strait of Hormuz; a senior Iranian official told Reuters no signed Hormuz agreement is expected.
Data & Statistics
- “Saudi Arabia has shut down its East-West Pipeline as a precaution after strikes hit the line in the Riyadh and Madinah regions, leaving several people injured,” — Gulf News
- The BRICS bloc now comprises ten members, with Iran and the UAE on opposite sides of the Gulf dispute.
Official Statements & Responses
- Saudi Civil Defense confirmed that a prior security alert in Sharurah Governorate had been resolved.
- The BRICS chair issued a statement urging “maximum restraint” and condemning unilateral military actions, seeking language acceptable to both Iran and the UAE.
- Chinese President Xi Jinping presented a four-point proposal calling for a “permanent and comprehensive ceasefire” and urging all parties to stay committed to a political settlement.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Reuters indicated that the Oman meeting is unlikely to produce a signed Hormuz deal, whereas other Gulf-state sources have not confirmed concrete outcomes.
- Bahrain’s non-attendance was reported by Gulf News, yet no official statement from Bahrain’s foreign ministry has been released, leaving the rationale unclear.
What’s Next
- BRICS leaders are expected to endorse a joint declaration later in the summit, containing generalized condemnation of unilateral military action.
- The Oman-hosted Iran-Gulf dialogue will conclude shortly, with any agreements to be announced by the participating foreign ministries.
- Saudi Arabia’s pipeline status and the broader security situation in the Hejaz region will be monitored by the kingdom’s civil defense and energy ministries in the coming weeks.