West Asia Geopolitics
Iran-UAE-Saudi Dynamics in BRICS
The presence of Iran, UAE, and Saudi Arabia in the same BRICS grouping is historically unprecedented. Iran and Saudi Arabia are the region's two major rival powers — one Shia-majority, the other Sunni-majority — whose rivalry has fueled conflicts across Yemen, Lebanon, Iraq, and Syria for decades. The UAE, while a close Saudi partner, has pursued increasingly independent foreign policy. A China-brokered Iran-Saudi normalization deal in March 2023 partially reduced tensions, but underlying rivalries remain. BRICS's expansion to include all three simultaneously makes India's forum a unique diplomatic arena.
- Iran was admitted to BRICS effective January 2024 despite US objections.
- Saudi Arabia accepted the BRICS invite in 2023 but has not formally ratified membership, though it participates in BRICS activities.
- The UAE joined BRICS effective January 2024 and is among the most economically active new members.
- The China-mediated Saudi-Iran rapprochement was signed in Beijing in March 2023 after seven years of severed diplomatic ties (since January 2016 when Saudi Arabia executed Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr).
● Tracked since February 26, 2026 · last seen April 15, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
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