The United Arab Emirates called Iran a threat to global security and economic stability and urged the US to deliver a “conclusive outcome” that addresses Iran’s threats, including the recent attacks on its
Gulf neighbours and its nuclear capabilities.
In a strongly-worded article for The Wall Street Journal, UAE Ambassador to the US, Yousef Al Otaiba, said, ” We can’t let Iran hold the US, the United Arab Emirates and the global economy hostage. A simple cease-fire isn’t enough. We need a conclusive outcome that addresses Iran’s full range of threats: nuclear capabilities, missiles, drones, terror proxies and blockades of international sea lanes.”
He said Iran launched over 2,180 missiles and drones at the UAE, far more than at any other country. “Beyond our borders, Iran is striking airports, seaports and energy infrastructure. It is blockading energy shipments and supplies for fertiliser and manufacturing and threatening theme parks and cultural sites worldwide through its proxy network,” he added.
The UAE envoy said this was “not a war we wanted”, pointing to Abu Dhabi’s diplomatic efforts from Tehran to Washington. He further said that the UAE had conveyed to Iran that its territory and airspace would not be used for strikes on Iranian territory, but knew it would be Tehran’s first choice of targets.
“Iran’s nuclear capabilities have been degraded. Its proxies have been weakened. More needs to be done to remove the missile and drone threats. And we are ready to join an international initiative to reopen the strait and keep it open,” he said. “We want Iran as a normal neighbor. It can be reclusive and even unwelcoming, but it can’t attack its neighbors, blockade international waters, or export extremism.”
This came after an earlier report that suggested that several Gulf countries that had initially warned US President Donald Trump against launching military action on Iran are now urging Washington to continue striking the Islamic Republic.
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Four senior officials representing different Gulf capitals told The Times that there is a growing consensus in the region that Iran’s military capabilities must be sufficiently weakened to prevent future threats to neighbouring states. They emphasised that there is broad agreement on the need to ensure Iran emerges from the conflict with a significantly degraded military capacity.
Meanwhile, Trump has announced that the United States has started diplomatic efforts with Iran to end the war, which has roiled global markets and raised inflation fears. However, Tehran has rejected reports of negotiations with Washington, defiantly stating that it intends to keep fighting.
Despite Tehran’s refusal, the United States said it was still in talks with Iran despite Tehran reportedly rejecting a US plan to end the war, but warned that Trump is ready to “unleash hell” if there is no deal.
