During the recent BRICS Foreign Ministers' meeting held in New Delhi, UAE Minister of State Khalifa bin Shaheen Almarar delivered a forceful message regarding ongoing security challenges. He explicitly rejected Iran's attempts to rationalize recent hostilities, emphasizing that the UAE does not rely on external powers for its safety. Asserting the nation's right to self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter, Almarar maintained that the UAE is fully capable of safeguarding its sovereignty, residents, and vital infrastructure against any form of aggression.

Almarar held Iran directly accountable for a series of hostile acts, noting that since February 2026, the UAE has successfully intercepted thousands of drones and missiles aimed at civilian and economic targets. He criticized Tehran for ignoring international consensus and multiple resolutions from bodies like the UN Security Council and the International Maritime Organization. Furthermore, he highlighted the alarming obstruction of the Strait of Hormuz, labeling the use of this critical waterway for economic blackmail as an act of piracy that threatens both regional stability and global energy security.