West Asia war: Peace cannot be piecemeal, says Jaishankar at Brics meet

West Asia conflict and Strait of Hormuz tensions dominated BRICS talks amid sharp exchanges between Iranian and UAE ministers

The war in West Asia and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz dominated the proceedings on the opening day of the two-day Brics foreign ministers’ meet in the national capital on Thursday. 

Heated exchanges between Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi and United Arab Emirates’ (UAE’s) Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Khalifa Shaheen Al Marar marred one of the two sessions of the conclave, with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov intervening to soothe frayed tempers. 

Brics, originally comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, expanded in 2024 to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the UAE, with Indonesia joining in 2025. The Brics foreign ministers called on Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi in the afternoon. 

 

During the talks, India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar appealed for solidarity among Brics members, Iran’s Araghchi urged the group to condemn the US and Israel’s military campaign against his country and sought India’s backing to forge a consensus. 

Modi will be travelling to the UAE on Friday. On May 5, the PM condemned the attack on UAE’s Fujaira, but did not mention Iran by name. India has tried to keep its relations with the UAE and Iran on an even keel, but has to confront the fact that 4.5 million Indians live and work in the UAE as opposed to only a few thousands in Iran, most of whom have returned home since the outbreak of the conflict on February 28. 

Consensus is likely to elude the conclave with the UAE’s representative flagging Iranian attacks on its infras­tructure. On Wednesday, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi had told the media that one Brics member country, which he didn’t identify, was pushing the group to condemn Iran, holding up a consensus on the conflict.

Lavrov also met Modi separately. The two exchanged views on regional and global issues, including the situation in Ukraine and West Asia. Araghchi also had a separate meeting with National Security Adviser Ajit Doval. 

In his statement, Araghchi urged Brics member-states and all responsible members of the international community to explicitly condemn violations of international law by the US and Israel, including their illegal aggression against Iran, prevent the politicisation of international institutions, and take concrete action to halt warmongering and bring an end to the impunity of those violating the UN Charter. 

“We believe that Brics can — and must — become one of the principal pillars in shaping a more just, balanced, and humane global order; an order in which might can never make right. Nations which stand up for their dignity and independence may endure hardship, but they will never be defeated,” Araghchi said. He said the UAE, along with the US, is directly involved in military operations against Iran, and Tehran responded by launching strikes on Gulf countries, including the UAE. 

In his statement, Jaishankar flagged concerns over the West Asia crisis and its impact on energy supplies and maritime stability in the Strait of Hormuz, and urged Brics nations to develop “practical ways” to navigate geopolitical upheavals as well as “unilateral coercive” sanctions. Jaishankar said respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity must anchor international relations.

He said “peace cannot be piecemeal” and “it is essential to uphold international law, protect civilians, and avoid targeting public infrastructure”. “The conflict in West Asia merits particular attention. Continuing tensions, risks to maritime traffic, and disruptions to energy infrastructure highlight the fragility of the situation,” Jaishankar said. 

He also referred to the conflict in Gaza, which, he said, has grave humanitarian implications. Further, he mentioned challenges facing Lebanon and Syria as well as prevailing situation in Sudan, Yemen, and Libya. “Taken together, they underline a clear reality: stability cannot be selective, and peace cannot be piecemeal. It is essential to uphold international law, protect civilians, and avoid targeting public infrastructure,” he said, adding that “the increasing resort to unilateral coercive measures and sanctions (is) inconsistent with international law and the UN Charter”. “Such measures disproportionately affect developing countries. These unjustifiable measures cannot substitute dialogue, nor can pressure replace diplomacy,” Jaishankar said.