India, May 15 -- Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov on Friday said India could serve as a long-term mediator in the West Asia conflict, pointing to New Delhi's "vast diplomatic experience and international standing", while distinguishing it from Pakistan's current role as a crisis broker between the United States and Iran.

Lavrov's statements came at a press briefing in New Delhi following a meeting of BRICS foreign ministers, which India is chairing this year.

The remarks came on the same day Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in Abu Dhabi for talks with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, during which Modi offered India's support for peace in West Asia and said keeping the Strait of Hormuz "free and open" was New Delhi...