UAE Adviser Warns Military Options Fail to End Iran Crisis

The United Arab Emirates has stated that military solutions will not provide a quick exit from the ongoing crisis with Iran, urging regional leaders to prioritize diplomacy over further confrontation. Anwar Gargash, a presidential adviser to the UAE, delivered the assessment on Sunday during the Manama Dialogue in Bahrain. He told the gathering that political tools remain the primary assets available to the region.

Gargash described the conflict, which began on Feb. 28 with joint U.S. and Israeli strikes, as a watershed year for the region. The initial attacks were followed by Iranian strikes on Gulf nations. He said the current situation requires substantial wisdom and an understanding that adding military pressure will complicate an already complex scene.

Negotiations are currently underway in Qatar, where Iranian officials are reviewing a proposal that could reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said his country is ready for both defense and diplomacy, depending on the rationality of Washington. He noted that no direct talks are happening between the two nations, but that the final outcome hinges on answers provided by the United States to specific Iranian questions.

The fear of escalation dominated the three-day forum, which brings together defense and foreign affairs officials from around the world. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty spoke the day before Gargash, warning that a second round of escalation would be more destructive and lead nowhere. He joined other Gulf and Arab officials in echoing the sentiment that another war is in no one's interest.

The UAE faced the heaviest barrage of attacks during the previous phase of the conflict. According to the International Institute for Strategic Studies, the country endured more than 3,000 drone and ballistic missile attacks targeting airports, military sites, and oil facilities. Most of those projectiles were intercepted before impact. The war has since solidified the relationship between Washington and Abu Dhabi, with Gargash noting it is now central to the UAE's defensive capabilities.

Bahrain, which hosts the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet, also welcomed efforts to reduce tensions. Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani said his country supports any dialogue that prevents escalation. He described a consistent pattern of Iranian threats against sea, air, and data facilities, noting that the country was targeted by 500 drones and nearly 200 ballistic missiles during the height of the war.

The attacks struck the naval base, residential buildings, the financial district, and a water desalination plant in Bahrain. Since the April ceasefire, Gulf nations have spent billions of dollars to strengthen their defense capabilities. Al Zayani also pointed to recent threats against underwater data cables and attacks by Houthi rebels on Saudi Arabia as part of this ongoing pattern.

A lack of coordinated defense among the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council emerged as a major issue at the forum. During the height of the war, member states operated independently with U.S. command and control centers rather than as a unified bloc. Gargash offered a candid critique of this approach, stating that while individual nations rose to the challenge, the group as a whole did not.

He said the region is braced for the possibility of further escalation despite the current diplomatic efforts. The Manama Dialogue serves as a key platform for these discussions, with participants aiming to bridge the wide gap between U.S. and Iranian positions before the conflict reignites.