Iran21 September, 20262 min read
Anwar Gargash Says UAE Expects Prolonged War With Iran, Calls for Iran-Gulf Security Talks
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Gargash predicts a prolonged war and urges Iran-Gulf security talks. Discussions at Iranian-American and Iranian-Arab levels should occur, says Gargash.
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UAE warns of duration
Senior Emirati official Anwar Gargash said the UAE expects a prolonged war with Iran and called for Iran-Gulf security talks that place Gulf states at the center rather than on the receiving end of Iranian attacks. Gargash told Al-Monitor that he sees a "prolonged conflict" and said the conflict has continued even as "the tempos changed" from February toward March. Gargash said the UAE has realized it will be dealing with an "unstable Iran for a period" and argued that the region cannot move from crisis to crisis.
Gargash said the Iranians see themselves as a regional hegemon and that they would rather discuss the strategic issues with the United States. Gargash said Iran must "compromise" in any new deal to end the war and declared that "non-belligerence" is especially important to the UAE.
Qatar pushes a framework
Qatar Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani called Sunday for a regional security framework bringing Gulf countries and Iran together, saying the recent war should serve as a "wake-up call" for the region. Al Thani said at the Qatar Economic Forum in New York that "Iran is our neighbor" and argued that without a security framework ensuring that none of the Gulf states is posing a threat to the other, the region will not continue as it used to be. Al Thani said Qatar and its regional partners were working toward such an arrangement and said, "We are hoping that this war is a wake-up call for everyone that it's time for it to happen."
Al Thani said Qatar would continue its mediation efforts, maintain communication channels and work with regional and international partners to reduce tensions and support diplomatic understandings. Al Thani said the recent crisis had tested assumptions about security and stability and described effects extending beyond the region.
Talks, talks, and investment
Al Thani told Bloomberg that the Gulf won’t be the same as before the war unless there is a security framework ensuring no one is a threat to each other, and he said the region needs to have good relations. Al Thani said Qatar would continue its mediation efforts and maintain communication channels while working with regional and international partners to reduce tensions and support diplomatic arrangements. Al Thani announced the launch of Doha Investment, a new platform designed to manage and expand the Qatar Investment Authority’s domestic investment portfolio and increase private-sector participation.
Qatar expects to tender about $38.5 billion in infrastructure projects over the next five years, while real estate and hospitality projects are expected to attract $22.5 billion in private investment. The combined potential value of the projects was described as bringing the total above $60 billion in potential investment opportunities over five years.