BRICS adopts New Delhi declaration urging restraint in the Middle East war

Consensus in New Delhi

BRICS leaders unanimously adopted a joint declaration in New Delhi on September 12 that expressed deep concern over the Middle East war and called for maximum restraint. The text urged parties to avoid steps that could worsen the conflict and reiterated support for resolving disputes through dialogue, consultation and diplomacy. Agreement was notable because the expanded bloc includes Iran and the United Arab Emirates, countries divided by the regional fighting, as well as governments with sharply different relationships with Washington and Israel.

What the declaration covers

The statement called for protection of civilians, respect for state sovereignty and territorial integrity, and preservation of global trade, supply chains, energy flows and maritime security. It also raised concern about attacks on civilian infrastructure and safeguarded nuclear facilities. The declaration is political rather than legally binding, and it does not create a ceasefire, enforcement mechanism or negotiating timetable. Its immediate significance lies in establishing common language among members that had struggled to agree earlier in the year.

Iran and the UAE at the same table

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also met Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on the summit’s sidelines. Reuters reported that the two discussed de-escalation, stability and regional peace, although neither side announced a concrete agreement. The bilateral meeting and joint declaration together show that channels remain open between governments affected differently by the conflict, but they should not be read as evidence that their disputes have been settled.

The UN connection

An official United Nations account of Secretary-General António Guterres’s September 11 meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi confirms that the Middle East and Ukraine conflicts, their economic effects, and India’s BRICS priorities were already central to summit diplomacy. The UN record does not authenticate every clause of the BRICS declaration, but it independently establishes the diplomatic setting and the emphasis placed on multilateral institutions, food access and fertiliser supplies.

What to watch

The test is whether members translate consensus language into mediation or coordinated proposals. The declaration may give India additional room to present BRICS as a forum capable of keeping adversaries engaged, while Iran and the UAE can point to provisions matching their stated interests. Yet the bloc has no unified military or sanctions policy, and its members retain conflicting alliances. Follow-up contacts, maritime-security initiatives and any concrete ceasefire proposal will matter more than the declaration’s wording alone.