BRICS, Oman talks reveal how Gulf states are preparing for Iran’s next phase - analysis

From the BRICS summit in India to planned talks in Oman, regional powers are looking for a path forward as tensions with Iran continue to reshape the Middle East.

The Iran conflict is entering a new phase amid key meetings in India and Oman. These meetings show how countries in the Gulf are looking to what may come next, even as Saudi Arabia faces pressure from Iranian-backed groups in Iraq and Yemen. Oman is also hoping to host Gulf states and Iran at a meeting on Monday. Bahrain is not expected to attend, Gulf News reported on September 12.

Let’s begin with a look at the BRICS meeting in India. BRICS brings together numerous countries that are part of a non-Western economic bloc. These include Russia, China, India, Brazil, and South Africa. This meeting is important because Iran and the UAE are present. The UAE’s Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, met Iran’s Masoud Pezeshkian, President of Iran, on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Leaders Summit in New Delhi, India.

The meeting is important and comes amid several reports about moves at BRICS to discuss the Iran conflict. For instance, reports at Al-Jazeera indicate that China’s leader Xi Jinping. Gulf News meanwhile reported on the UAE meeting. “During the meeting, the two sides discussed a number of regional and international issues of mutual interest, as well as the importance of supporting efforts to promote calm, de-escalation and stability in the region and enhance prospects for peace and development for its peoples.” (Read More)