UAE Vows Energy Exports Won't Be Held Hostage by Iran Conflict
UAE presidential adviser says energy exports won't be held hostage by Iran war; Gulf states urged to build self-sufficient security.
The United Arab Emirates is actively developing alternative routes for its energy exports and trade to ensure they remain unaffected by the ongoing US-Iran conflict, according to a senior Emirati official.
Speaking at the Hili Forum in Abu Dhabi, UAE presidential adviser Anwar Gargash stated, "Our energy exports will not be held hostage, nor will our trade and economic activity." The remarks come after Iran launched missiles at the country and targeted its oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, significantly impacting Gulf Arab states.
Gargash acknowledged that while relations with Iran could eventually recover, rebuilding trust after the attacks could take decades. He also criticized Gulf Arab nations for failing to mount a coordinated response to Iran, noting they had been unable to translate shared concerns into a unified strategy.
US Alliance Not Enough
At the same forum, Qatar's foreign ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari echoed similar concerns, arguing that Gulf countries should not rely solely on their strategic partnership with the US for security. "Having international forces in the region, having a strategic alliance with the US is very important but is not enough," al-Ansari said. "Self-sufficiency when it comes to security is the only way forward."
Gargash added that while the partnership with the US is essential, the six-month conflict has exposed the importance of national capabilities. "Our security is our first priority. When we depend entirely on others, we cannot always assume it will be their priority," he said.
Hormuz Remains a Sticking Point
Iran has followed through on its threat to close the Strait of Hormuz, once a conduit for a fifth of global energy supplies. The disruption has sent energy prices soaring and sparked a global economic crisis.
The waterway's status remains a central obstacle in negotiations between Washington and Tehran, mediated by Qatar and Pakistan. Iran claims the strait belongs to Iran and Oman, a position Gulf states broadly reject.
"Freedom of navigation is not a concession to be granted, nor a principle to be renegotiated under pressure," Gargash said, adding that any long-term resolution must include credible guarantees against further Iranian attacks on Gulf Arab states.
The conflict, sparked by US and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, remains deadlocked. A preliminary ceasefire reached in June has unravelled, with little progress made in efforts to revive the peace process.