UAE: Diplomacy Only Path Out of Iran Crisis

The United Arab Emirates has stated that military options will not provide a quick exit from the ongoing crisis with Iran, urging a diplomatic breakthrough to prevent further confrontation. Anwar Gargash, presidential adviser to the UAE, made these remarks on Sunday during a security forum in Bahrain. He described the current situation as requiring political tools and a great deal of wisdom to avoid complications that military action would likely cause.

Gargash acknowledged that the positions of the United States and Iran remain far apart. He warned that if these stances are not bridged, the region must prepare for the worst-case scenario. He noted that another round of war is not in the interest of the region or Iran. Other Gulf and Arab officials at the forum echoed this sentiment. Egypt's foreign minister Badr Abdelatty told the gathering the day before that a second round of escalation would be more destructive and lead nowhere.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said negotiators are currently in Qatar discussing a proposal that could reopen the Strait of Hormuz soon. He clarified that no direct talks are occurring with the United States and that the final outcome depends on Washington's answers to specific Iranian questions. In an interview on his Telegram channel, Araghchi expressed hope that the U.S. would choose diplomacy over other paths, stating that Iran is ready for both defense and diplomacy depending on American rationality.

The conflict, which began on February 28 with joint strikes by the U.S. and Israel, has had severe physical impacts on Gulf nations. According to the International Institute for Strategic Studies, the UAE faced more than 3,000 drone and ballistic missile attacks targeting airports, military bases, and oil facilities before an April ceasefire. Most of these attacks were intercepted. Iran also fired 500 drones and nearly 200 ballistic missiles at Bahrain, hitting a naval base, residential buildings, the financial district, and a water desalination plant.

Gulf nations have spent billions of dollars to strengthen their defense capabilities since the conflict began. Gargash said the war has solidified U.S.-UAE relations, making them central to the UAE's defensive abilities. Bahraini Foreign Affairs Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani said his country welcomes efforts to reduce tensions. He criticized Iran for targeting sea, air, and data facilities, including underwater data cables, even after the ceasefire.

Houthi rebels have also escalated attacks on Saudi oil infrastructure and airports this summer. They cite Saudi airstrikes on Sanaa airport as their reason for these strikes, which have disrupted air traffic and hit critical oil pipelines. Al Zayani described these Houthi actions as part of a continued pattern of instability, noting that while the hands may change, the approach does not.

A lack of coordinated defense among the six Gulf Cooperation Council states weighed heavily on the forum. During the peak of the war, Gulf nations responded at the national level, working with U.S. command centers, which sometimes hindered their overall defensive effort. Gargash offered a candid assessment of this gap. He said the region has not collectively risen to the challenge, even though individual states have managed independently or through bilateral cooperation.