India can play a “greater role” for peace in West Asia, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Friday (May 15, 2026).

Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, he said there is no military solution to anything related to Iran.

He also said Iran is ready to help pass all vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, adding the situation in Strait of Hormuz is very complicated now.

Mr. Araghchi, who is in New Delhi to attend a BRICS conclave, said there can’t be any solution other than a negotiated settlement on the West Asia crisis.

“We will welcome any constructive role by India,” he said.

On negotiations with the US, he said these are “suffering from trust”.

“Iran has every reason not to trust U.S. while Americans have every reason to trust us,” he said.

According to Mr. Araghchi, mediation by Pakistan has not failed yet. He also asserted Iran has never wanted nuclear weapons.

Iran’s Foreign Minister accused the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of direct involvement in military ​operations against his country during a BRICS meeting in New ‌Delhi on Thursday (May 14, 2026), Iranian state media reported.

The spat ​comes a day after the UAE ⁠denied a statement by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he visited the Gulf country during the Iran war, to which Abbas Araghchi ‌already reacted by saying that “those colluding with Israel to sow division will be held to account.”

“I ‌didn’t name the UAE in my (BRICS) statement ‌for ⁠the sake of unity. But the truth is ⁠that the UAE was directly involved in the aggression against my country. When the attacks started, they didn’t even issue a condemnation,” state ​media quoted Mr. Araghchi as saying, in response to comments made by the Emirati representative.

Iranian state media did not specify what the Emirati representative said.

According to the reports, Mr. Araghchi argued ‌that neither U.S. bases nor an alliance with Israel ​provided the UAE with security and that it should reconsider its policy toward Iran.

“We must ⁠live side-by-side in peace, and this requires peaceful relations and complete understanding between the two countries,” Mr. Araghchi ‌added.

The Iran war began with U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iran on February 28, with Tehran responding by firing missiles and drones at U.S. bases and other targets in Gulf countries.

The Wall Street Journal published a story on Monday (May 11, 2026) saying the UAE carried out military ‌operations on Iran in early April. Saudi Arabia has also launched ​numerous, unpublicized strikes against Iran, Western and Iranian officials have said.

Iranian media have raised doubt ⁠as to whether the participants at the BRICS foreign ministers’ ⁠meeting in India will manage to issue a final communique as a result of differences between Iran ‌and the UAE, with Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi being cited as saying there were “problems and communications” ​due to the UAE’s presence. 

Iran Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Thursday (May 14, 2026) arrived in India to attend the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ meeting in New Delhi.

Mr. Araghchi indicated that UAE will be “held to account” for colluding with Israel, after Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu office disclosed secret visit to Abu Dhabi during war.

In a X post, Mr. Araghchi said “Netanyahu has now publicly revealed what Iran’s security services long ago conveyed to our leadership. Enmity with the Great People of Iran is a foolish gamble. Collusion with Israel in doing so: unforgivable. Those colluding with Israel to sow division will be held to account.”

Mr. Araghchi will be coming face to face with UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs on Thursday (May 14, 2026) at BRICS Foreign Ministers summit.

On May 13, 2026, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kzen Gharibabadi said “Iran has provided “free of charge services” to international shipping in the Strait of Hormuz for decades but is now working on a “protocol” to include a financial component covering costs it incurs to make navigation safe in the Persian Gulf region.”

Speaking to a select group of journalists at the Embassy of Iran, Mr. Gharibabadi, who is here for the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ meeting, avoided naming the UAE directly and said “a neighbouring country that is also a member of the BRICS” is thwarting a joint statement at the meeting by trying to introduce language that seeks to condemn Iran’s military strategy against U.S. and Israeli attacks.

There will be no high-level representation from Beijing at Thursday’s (May 14, 2026) meeting of BRICS Foreign Ministers in New Delhi because of “scheduling reasons”, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday (May 12, 2026).

The May 14-15 meeting coincides with the visit to China by U.S. President Donald Trump, who lands in the Chinese capital on Wednesday (May 13, 2026).

Foreign Minister Wang Yi will be in Beijing for Mr. Trump’s visit. China will not be sending any other high-level official for the meeting, the Foreign Ministry indicated.

“Due to scheduling reasons, Chinese Ambassador to India Xu Feihong will represent Foreign Minister Wang Yi at this Foreign Ministers’ Meeting,” the Foreign Ministry said.

“BRICS is an important platform for cooperation among emerging markets and developing countries. China attaches great importance to and actively participates in BRICS cooperation, is always committed to deepening the BRICS strategic partnership, and consolidating the positive momentum of unity and cooperation among BRICS countries. We stand ready to work with all BRICS members to support India, as the Chair, in successfully hosting the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and promoting the high-quality development of ‘BRICS Plus’ cooperation.”

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is expected to arrive in New Delhi on Wednesday (May 13, 2026) and will on Thursday (May 14, 2026) meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a joint call-on along with other BRICS Ministers from Brazil, Russia, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Indonesia.

A meeting in New Delhi last month of Deputy Foreign Ministers and Special Envoys of the 11-nation BRICS grouping ended without a joint statement as delegates from the United Arab Emirates and Iran sparred over the war in West Asia.