Sharp divisions over the Iran war challenge BRICS unity, yet Minister Ronald Lamola asserts that the group remains solid despite differing views among its members.

International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola does not believe the solidarity of BRICS has been damaged by its failure to agree on a common position on the Iran war.

Sharp differences between member states Iran and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) -- which are on opposite sides in the war -- prevented the BRICS foreign ministers from issuing a consensus communique after their meeting in New Delhi on Friday. Instead, they could only put out a Chair's Statement, which is the usual diplomatic fallback position when consensus can't be reached.

The 63-point statement by Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, the foreign minister of India, which is chairing BRICS this year, instead described, in vague terms, the "differing views" of members on the war and the blockage by both Iran and the United States of the vital Strait of Hormuz.

Iran and the UAE clashed behind closed doors at the meeting, with Iran accusing the UAE of actively participating in the US and Israeli military assault on Iran.

Some commentators have said the sharp differences on the Iran war have been damaging to BRICS solidarity, but Lamola disagreed.

"Not at all, because ...we agreed on almost everything. Except this matter, where...