Iran’s assertiveness was on full display at the BRICS foreign ministers’ meeting, where a sharp confrontation erupted between Iranian and UAE delegations. Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi reportedly argued that “neither US bases nor an alliance with Israel provided the UAE with security,” urging Abu Dhabi to reconsider its posture toward Tehran.
Simultaneously, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baqaei declared in an interview with The Hindu that “Iran is now a superpower” and that ties with India “are flourishing.” He noted that Tehran is currently reviewing America’s response to its peace proposal — a statement that positions Iran as a diplomatic actor rather than merely a military target.
Meanwhile, in Iran’s holy city of Qom, Indian volunteers continued serving sharbat to locals amid war fears and protests — a quietly powerful image of people-to-people ties persisting even as governments maneuver. “While governments may change positions and diplomacy may fluctuate, ordinary people can still choose compassion,” The Hindu reported.
