Standfirst: UAE presidential adviser Anwar Gargash said diplomatic and economic communication with Iran must continue because the countries are neighbours, but warned that confidence damaged by attacks on Gulf states will take years to restore. He also said Houthi control of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait would pose a concern for the international economy, not only the region.
The United Arab Emirates will keep channels open with Iran while defending its sovereignty, according to the UAE president’s diplomatic adviser Dr Anwar Gargash. Speaking at the Arab Media Summit in Dubai on 17 September 2026, Gargash distinguished between maintaining relations and rebuilding trust after attacks that he attributed to Iran.
His comments provide an insight into the UAE’s diplomatic position during the wider regional crisis: communication remains necessary, but any return to confidence will be a long-term process. The remarks are significant for European affairs because instability around the Gulf can affect energy markets, shipping routes, international trade and security partnerships.
UAE keeps dialogue open but warns of a long recovery
Gargash said the UAE and Iran had “very complex relations” but remained geographically connected. In his view, those circumstances made continued communication unavoidable, even after the security environment in the region had deteriorated.
He described the UAE’s approach through three broad priorities:
- Defending the country’s sovereignty;
- Remaining flexible in its diplomatic response;
- Protecting economic development during the crisis.
Gargash said the UAE did not want the conflict to halt economic activity. He pointed to President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed’s visit to Germany as an example of efforts to maintain international engagement and development while the crisis continued.
However, he said diplomatic relations should not be confused with confidence. The UAE, he argued, still needed open dialogue with Tehran to manage day-to-day issues, but “confidence building” would take years.
Gargash calls attacks a strategic mistake for Iran
The adviser said Iran’s president had described the aggression against Gulf Cooperation Council countries as a major mistake. Gargash went further, calling it a geostrategic mistake that had made Iran’s position more complicated and could affect the country’s future.
He also criticised the use of proxy militias, saying Iran remained closely associated with aggression while armed groups continued to operate in the region. Gargash named Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen when discussing the broader consequences of weapons and military forces operating outside state control.
His position was that Gulf states could eventually help facilitate Iran’s return to international trade and wider diplomatic engagement, but only after attacks and threats ended. He said negotiations over a new regional future could not take place while aggression against neighbouring countries continued.
UAE says it has not imposed separate measures on Iran
Asked whether the UAE had introduced its own financial or political measures against Iran, Gargash said it had not. He said the country had defended itself and continued to extend its hand for friendly relations.
That position suggests the UAE is trying to combine deterrence with diplomatic flexibility. Gargash described Iran’s decision-making system as involving several different circles and argued that voices opposing confrontation with Gulf countries should become stronger.
He also referred to a meeting between Sheikh Khalid bin Mohamed and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian at BRICS. According to Gargash, the two sides did not agree on every issue but shared a view that a new page should be opened and that the future should not resemble the current crisis.
Bab el-Mandeb risks extend beyond the Middle East
Gargash said the security of Saudi Arabia was directly linked to the UAE’s own security and that Gulf stability was interconnected. He condemned any targeting of Mecca and rejected attacks affecting Saudi sovereignty.
He also warned about the reported Houthi offensive aimed at controlling the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the strategic maritime passage linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. Gargash said control of the strait would be a concern for everyone because its importance extended beyond the region.
The route is central to international shipping and trade. Disruption could affect:
- Commercial shipping between Europe and Asia;
- Energy and goods deliveries;
- Insurance and freight costs;
- Supply-chain planning for businesses;
- Regional and international maritime security.
For Europe, any prolonged disruption in the Red Sea region could create challenges for importers, exporters and transport operators. The source material does not establish the scale or duration of any potential disruption, so its economic effect remains dependent on future developments.
No timetable given for further contacts with Tehran
Gargash did not provide a timetable for additional UAE-Iran contacts. He said the UAE had not chosen the war but had defended itself once the conflict began. He presented political dialogue as a process that should now begin, while making clear that the conditions for restored trust were not yet in place.
The immediate outlook therefore combines two tracks: continued communication to prevent further escalation and a much slower effort to rebuild confidence. The UAE’s position also links regional diplomacy with the protection of trade, investment and maritime routes.
Why this matters for Europe
This development is not an EU decision or a European Union policy announcement. It is a statement by a senior UAE adviser about relations with Iran and regional security. Nevertheless, it has wider relevance for European news because Gulf tensions can affect international commerce and the security of routes used by European businesses.
European governments and companies may also monitor the situation for possible effects on:
- Shipping through the Red Sea and adjacent waterways;
- Energy-market stability;
- Trade links with the Gulf;
- Diplomatic efforts to prevent a broader regional conflict;
- Security cooperation involving maritime routes.
No further timetable for negotiations, sanctions or formal diplomatic agreements was announced in the source material. The next developments will depend on whether communication between the UAE and Iran continues and whether attacks in the Gulf and threats to maritime routes subside.
Conclusion
The UAE’s message is clear: relations with Iran must continue because geography and regional interests make communication necessary, but trust will not return quickly. Gargash said rebuilding confidence could take years, while warning that instability around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait could affect the international economy. For Europe, the key issue is whether diplomatic engagement can reduce risks to Gulf security, shipping and trade.
