By Samia Nakhoul and Maha El Dahan
DUBAI, April 6 (Reuters) – UAE official Anwar Gargas said any settlement of the U.S.-Iran war must guarantee access through the Strait of Hormuz, warning that a deal that fails to rein in Iran’s nuclear program and its missiles and drones would pave the way for an “even more dangerous, more volatile Middle East.”
Gargas, a diplomatic adviser to the UAE president, told a weekend briefing that the Strait of Hormuz – the world’s most important oil artery – cannot be weaponized, stressing that its security is not a regional deal chip but a global economic imperative.
“The Strait of Hormuz cannot be held hostage by any country,” Gargas said, adding that freedom of navigation through the waterway “must be part and parcel of any conflict resolution that is clearly agreed upon.”
Gargas said the UAE wants the war to end, but warned against a ceasefire that leaves the root causes of the instability unsolved.
“We don’t want to see more and more growth,” he said. “But we don’t want a ceasefire that fails to address some of the key issues that create a very dangerous environment in the region … especially (Iran’s) nuclear program, missiles and drones that are still raining down on us and other countries.”
US President Donald Trump has threatened to rain “hell” if Tehran does not strike a deal and reopen the Strait of Hormuz by his Tuesday deadline. In a scathing post on his Truth social platform on Sunday, Trump threatened further attacks on Iranian energy and transportation infrastructure that critics say would constitute war crimes.
The US and Israel have launched missile and airstrikes against Iran for more than five weeks to destroy the threat posed by the country’s nuclear weapons development program, ballistic missile weapons and support for regional proxy militias.
Unfolding the worst-case scenario
Gargas said the United Arab Emirates is ready to join any US-led international effort to secure shipping through the strait.
About a fifth of the world’s oil and liquid gas supplies normally pass through it every day, but Iran’s actions have severely cut traffic, triggering a global energy crisis.
The conflict erupted when the US and Israel attacked Iran on February 28 after talks aimed at securing a nuclear deal between Washington and Tehran stalled. Iran retaliated with waves of missiles and drones targeting Israel, US military bases in the region and critical Gulf energy infrastructure, including airports, ports and commercial centers.
According to regional officials, the UAE has come under heavier Iranian attacks than any other Gulf state.
Gargash said that for decades, the most unlikely worst-case scenario for the UAE was a full-scale Iranian invasion — a scenario that has now emerged. Despite that, he said, the country is coping well, demonstrating resilience and resourcefulness under pressure.
He said the UAE’s economic fundamentals remained strong and positioned the country for recovery, although he acknowledged that this would require effort.
Gargas said Iran’s strategy could tighten rather than weaken the Gulf’s security alignment with Washington, adding to the US military’s role in the region and boosting Israel’s footprint. He said the US would remain the UAE’s main security partner and Abu Dhabi would double down on that relationship as regional threats intensified.
Iran’s attacks on Gulf energy facilities and shipping lanes were seen by regional officials as a calculated effort to raise costs for Washington’s Gulf Arab allies. By striking oil facilities, ports and key waterways — including the Straits — Iran banked on the Gulf states, worried about the economic shock and regional spillover, pressuring the United States to halt its campaign.
That argument drew on years of Gulf efforts to balance relations with Washington and Tehran, keep tensions under control and avoid direct confrontation. Many Gulf states had restored diplomatic relations with Iran and tried to protect their economies from regional shocks, believing that engagement would reduce the risk.
Gargas said Iran’s leadership was “fighting to save the regime, not the country”, arguing that no normal government would accept such destruction, only claiming it resisted. He warned that while the UAE does not seek enmity with Iran, trust in the current Tehran government is impossible.
The UAE is grateful, he said, for the international support it has received, singling out France as a stable partner and particularly appreciating Washington’s extraordinary support in strengthening the UAE’s air-defense capabilities.
(Writing by Samia Nakhaul; Editing by Lincoln Party.)
