UAE hopes to avert new Iran conflict, prepares for worst-case scenario

The United Arab Emirates is hoping that a “breakthrough” could end the conflict with Iran, its Al-Ain media said on Sunday. The report was based on comments by Anwar Gargash, the diplomatic advisor to the president of the UAE.Speaking at the 22nd annual Manama Dialogue conference in Bahrain, he affirmed that the security of the Gulf states is interconnected, expressing the Emirates' hope for an end to the war in the Middle East.The two-day conference, organized by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), took place over the weekend.

The Manama Dialogue event attracts key leaders and policymakers from around the region. It is often used to advance regional security and discuss what may come next in the Middle East.Gargash, according to the UAE report, said that “the security of the Gulf states is interconnected and what affects any of them affects the UAE,” adding that “trust with Iran has been shaken.” He expressed hope for a “diplomatic breakthrough,” adding, “We do not want to see another round of confrontation.”Nevertheless, the UAE is also preparing for a “worst-case” scenario.UAE seeks diplomacy as tensions with Iran persistThe rumors of war have persisted as the US prepares for midterm elections.

Israel is also in the midst of a post-election scrum as parties seek to form a coalition government.“As we have shown on previous occasions, we are prepared for the worst,” Gargash said. He is one of the important voices in the UAE and the region in terms of understanding the broader trends in the Middle East. He hopes for a return to the status quo in the Strait of Hormuz, to before the United States and Israel began strikes on Iran on February 28.

The Islamic Republic has been attacking ships since the war began.Meanwhile, Syria's Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani reaffirmed Syria's commitment to diplomacy and negotiations as the best means of establishing peaceful and secure relations with all parties. Syrian state media noted that the minister “said Israel had pursued a hostile approach toward Syria and its people, carrying out thousands of airstrikes and provocative actions on the ground.”Shaibani was at the Manama Dialogue event and was quoted as saying: “Syria had pursued negotiations since the beginning of its liberation.”

He added that “Syria believes US mediation aimed at ending Israeli attacks could deliver positive results for all parties.”Shaibani described Syria as entering a new phase. This comes amid some tensions with Jordan over the past week. Addressing the economic and development challenges facing Syria during recovery and reconstruction, he said that World Bank estimates put the cost of rebuilding what the war destroyed at approximately $250 billion, SANA noted.

The minister also participated in a session on the foundations of regional security at Manama. He met on Saturday with Bahrain's National Security Advisor and Royal Guard Commander, Lt. Gen. Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa.Qatar has been a major supporter of the new government in Syria.Syrian Defense Minister Maj.-Gen. Murhaf Abu Qasra met with Qatar's Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani to discuss regional and international developments and ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation.SANA reported that “the meeting, attended by several military officers, also addressed issues of mutual interest between the two countries.”It added that “the talks followed an August 4 telephone conversation between the two ministers, during which they discussed regional and international developments, bilateral coordination, and efforts to support regional security and stability.”Saudi-led coalition targets Houthi military capabilitiesIn Riyadh, the Saudi-led military coalition said it had “carried out a military operation on Sunday morning targeting resources used by the Houthis to support attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure.”Coalition spokesperson Turki Al-Maliki said the operation sought to counter threats to Yemen, Saudi Arabia, and shipping lanes in the southern Red Sea.Al-Maliki said that the Iran-backed Houthis were “exploiting vital resources to bolster their military capabilities, particularly ballistic missiles and drones,” Arab News reported.

The coalition “launched the operation in response to those attacks and the threat they posed to civilian lives and infrastructure,” it said.

This illustrates that, even as some countries gather in Manama and express hope for the future, the Houthis are still terrorizing Saudi Arabia and Yemen.