Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov gave a press conference following the BRICS Foreign Ministers meeting in India on May 15. After making introductory remarks, Lavrov was asked about the rising tensions in the Persian Gulf, and if the current war against Iran, with the active involvement of the UAE—both BRICS members—indicates a fracture within BRICS. Lavrov defended Iran and the BRICS, noting that the “root causes” of the crisis must be addressed, namely, “the completely unprovoked aggression of the United States and Israel against the Islamic Republic of Iran.” The current enmity between Iran and the UAE “is being instigated from outside,” he said, and supported all diplomatic efforts to bring the situation back under control. But Lavrov was clear in his assessment about the origination of the crisis: “I have not the slightest doubt that one of the tasks of the aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran was precisely to prevent the normalization of relations and even to create new problems in these relations, to antagonize Iran and its Arab neighbors.”
Lavrov specifically suggested India could moderate a resolution between Iran and the UAE—a proposal made even more interesting by Modi’s recent trip to the UAE: “India, in its capacity as [BRICS] chair, is directly dependent on oil supplies, including from this region. Why not offer its good offices, including as the country chairing BRICS, and invite Iran and the UAE, to begin with, to talk to each other and ascertain how to prevent enmity.” He later mentioned India again as a possible mediator, given its “considerable diplomatic experience and standing.” Before the BRICS meeting began, Lavrov reported that he had held “extensive bilateral discussions” with both Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Of additional note, Russian President Putin spoke on the phone to UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on May 16 about the crisis around Iran.