‘Surprise and relief’: Scribes from UAE, Iran react to their leaders’ meeting

The United Arab Emirates’ Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian held a one‑on‑one meeting on the sidelines of the BRICS Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi. The discussion took place in the International Media Centre at Bharat Mandapam, where delegations from both nations observed the encounter with a mix of astonishment and optimism.

Around twenty journalists representing UAE outlets such as Abu Dhabi TV and various newspapers shared the media room with a smaller Iranian contingent that included staff from the state‑run IRNA agency. The International Media Centre hosted over a thousand journalists on Saturday, including more than a hundred from other BRICS members like China, Russia and South Africa. The Ministry of External Affairs also invited social‑media influencers from all BRICS countries for a week‑long tour of Indian cities, underscoring India’s role as the summit host.

The meeting comes against a backdrop of heightened strain: Tehran has recently launched strikes on UAE cities, labeling the emirate a U.S. proxy, while disagreements over the wording of the West Asia war in the summit’s draft document have divided the two nations for months. By convening in New Delhi, the leaders signaled a possible de‑escalation, offering a diplomatic opening that could affect regional security dynamics and reinforce India’s position as a neutral facilitator in Gulf affairs.