Iranian state media reported on Thursday that Araqchi made the remarks after an exchange with the Emirati delegation at the BRICS gathering, where divisions over the Iran war threatened efforts to issue a joint communique.

“I didn’t name the UAE in my statement for the sake of unity,” Araqchi was quoted as saying. “But the truth is that the UAE was directly involved in the aggression against my country.”

Iranian media did not specify the comments made by the Emirati representative that prompted the response.

The diplomatic dispute followed the UAE’s denial this week of claims by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he had visited the Gulf state during the ongoing Iran conflict.

Araqchi had earlier warned that countries “colluding with Israel to sow division will be held to account,” remarks widely interpreted by regional analysts as directed toward Gulf states accused by Tehran of covert coordination with Israel and the United States.

The Iran war began on Feb. 28 with U.S. and Israeli strikes targeting Iranian facilities, prompting retaliatory missile and drone attacks by Tehran against U.S. bases and other targets across Gulf countries.

Iranian officials have increasingly accused regional governments of facilitating military operations against the Islamic republic, particularly states hosting U.S. military installations.

According to Iranian state media, Araqchi argued during the BRICS meeting that reliance on U.S. military bases and security cooperation with Israel would not guarantee the UAE’s stability.

“We must live side by side in peace, and this requires peaceful relations and complete understanding between the two countries,” he said.

The Wall Street Journal reported earlier this week that the UAE conducted military operations against Iran in early April. Reuters could not independently verify the report. Western and Iranian officials have also said Saudi Arabia carried out multiple unpublicized strikes against Iranian targets during the conflict.

The growing friction between Tehran and Abu Dhabi has complicated diplomatic dynamics within BRICS, the bloc comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa and several recently admitted members, including Iran and the UAE.

Iranian media cited Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi as saying there were “problems and communications” within the summit process because of the UAE’s participation.

The meeting in New Delhi was expected to focus on geopolitical coordination, trade cooperation and reform of global institutions, but the Iran war increasingly overshadowed proceedings as member states struggled to reconcile competing regional interests.

Aoun struck a defiant tone, condemning Hezbollah’s rocket attacks into northern Israel that triggered the latest conflict, while also criticizing Iran for backing and arming the group. He described both as violations of Lebanese sovereignty and reiterated his commitment to disarm non-state actors operating within the country.

“There will be no concessions to any principle, no infringement of the sovereignty of this country,” Aoun said, adding that Lebanon would base its decisions on national consensus rather than external influence.

The president also responded directly to Hezbollah’s criticism of Beirut’s decision to engage in direct talks with Israel, rejecting claims that Lebanon lacked leverage and asserting the government’s authority to pursue its own diplomatic path.

At the same time, Aoun called on Israel to halt attacks, withdraw its forces, release detainees and facilitate the return of displaced civilians. The 10-day ceasefire, brokered by the United States, has largely held after more than a month of hostilities, though Hezbollah is not formally part of the agreement.

Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel’s campaign against Hezbollah was not yet complete, while the group indicated its response would depend on developments on the ground, underscoring the fragility of the truce.

The conflict displaced more than one million people across Lebanon, with thousands of families now beginning to return to their homes as conditions stabilize. Roads leading to southern regions have been congested with vehicles carrying belongings salvaged during the fighting.

Aoun framed the moment as a turning point for Lebanon, emphasizing the need to rebuild and avoid further escalation after a conflict that has strained the country’s political and social fabric.

The vote, initially expected on Saturday, will now take place sometime next week, according to two diplomats who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the private nature of council discussions.

Bahrain, which holds the rotating presidency of the United Nations Security Council this month, had significantly watered down the resolution in an effort to secure consensus among the council’s 15 members.

The revised draft authorizes defensive measures to ensure safe passage of commercial vessels through the strait, stopping short of the offensive military action initially backed by Gulf states and the United States.

The delay underscores continued divisions within the council, with Russia and China still unwilling to support the modified proposal, diplomats said.

The Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one-fifth of global oil supply typically flows, has become a focal point of international concern amid escalating conflict in the region, raising fears over energy security and global trade disruptions.

Bahrain has been seeking unanimous backing for the resolution, but the postponement highlights the challenges of achieving agreement among major powers on how to respond to the the crisis.