New Delhi: In his first visit to the Gulf since a two-week US-Iran ceasefire came into effect, external affairs minister S. Jaishankar met UAE deputy prime minister and foreign minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed in Abu Dhabi on Saturday (April 11) to discuss the evolving regional situation.
The meeting took place the same day as the first direct US-Iran talks since 1979 got under way in Islamabad.
Abu Dhabi was the foreign minister's first stop in the region after the ceasefire, underscoring the priority New Delhi places on its relationship with the Emirates. New Delhi also dispatched petroleum minister Hardeep Singh Puri to Qatar immediately after the ceasefire came into effect
Jaishankar's visit comes as the UAE has been among the most vocal critics of Iran's conduct during the 40-day conflict, demanding accountability, reparations, and a comprehensive approach to Iran's military and nuclear capabilities as a condition for any lasting settlement.
The UAE foreign ministry said the two ministers discussed what it described as the "unprovoked and terrorist Iranian attacks" targeting the UAE and other countries, as well as regional developments following the ceasefire. Strategic relations between the two countries were also on the agenda.
On X, Jaishankar only wrote that the conversation "focused on the evolving regional situation and its implications." He also conveyed India's appreciation for the UAE's efforts to ensure the well-being of the Indian community there. Around 3.5 million Indian nationals live and work in the UAE.
India had been seen as tilting towards Israel and the Gulf during the conflict, a perception that drew opposition criticism. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visited Israel two days before the start of the Iran war, when war clouds were already gathering and by his subsequent calls with Gulf leaders as the situation worsened, in which he expressed concern over attacks on their territories. India had not expressed any specific criticism about US-Israeli strikes on Iran.
The UAE has been among the countries most heavily targeted by Iranian missile and drone attacks since the war began on February 28, when coordinated US-Israeli strikes on Iran triggered the broader regional conflict. Tehran said it had targeted United States military facilities in Gulf countries, which it claimed were used to launch American military operations.
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Abu Dhabi condemned the attacks in the strongest terms, describing them as a flagrant violation of national sovereignty and a clear breach of international law. The UAE also closed its embassy in Tehran and summoned Iran's ambassador.
Since the ceasefire, the UAE has taken a hard public position on what it expects from any lasting agreement. The foreign ministry said the scale of Iran's attacks, 2,819 ballistic and cruise missiles as well as drones over 40 days, necessitated a firm position, including ensuring Iran was held accountable and fully liable for damages and reparations.
Presidential adviser Anwar Gargash
Meanwhile, the talks between the United States and Iran ended early Sunday without a peace deal after the Iranians refused to accept US terms to not develop a nuclear weapon.