NEW DELHI: For the first time in eight years, an Iranian president will visit India, with Masoud Pezeshkian set to arrive in New Delhi for the 18th Brics summit Friday, amid escalating West Asia tensions. Shortly after his arrival, Pezeshkian will participate in the Brics Business Forum meeting along with PM Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin before joining Modi for a bilateral.The last Iranian president to visit India was Hassan Rouhani in 2018. Iran has confirmed participation by the president in the Brics summit, while Saudi and the UAE – both parties to the West Asia conflict along with Tehran – will be represented by foreign minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud and Abu Dhabi crown prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.Pezeshkian is likely to reiterate his message before Modi for India to help end the war and address Tehran’s concerns, including through a strong condemnation of “illegal aggression” against Iran, in the proposed Brics declaration. In meetings with Putin and Pezeshkian Friday, Modi is expected to stress the need for new members to subscribe to consensus in the grouping and work towards a unified joint declaration at the summit on key issues amid deepening divisions over West Asia.India agreed to the SCO Bishkek Declaration that condemned attacks on Iran. The declaration did not name the US or Israel though to prevent resistance from members that have cultivated ties with Washington.However, with the presence of UAE in Brics, balancing the interests of both sides has not been easy for India’s Brics chairship. It’s unlikely that the UAE will agree to an SCO-like formulation without seeking an condemnation of Iranian attacks.
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Gulf states the UAE and Saudi Arabia are only dialogue partners in SCO.India will prioritise the UN Charter, dialogue and diplomacy, freedom of navigation and civilian protection in the declaration. If the deadlock persists, govt will look to insulate economic agreements from the West Asia discord by acknowledging respective national positions.
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