DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iranian officials have made no secret about their massive ambitions for this week’s nonaligned nations’ gathering, with a guest list including leaders such as Egypt’s president and U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

Tehran seeks to assert itself on a host of issues before the meetings close Friday: Syria’s civil war, sidestepping Western sanctions, promoting its nuclear narrative and seeking to ease long-standing Middle East friction with rivals in Cairo and the Gulf. Yet it is likely to face substantial pushback.