Today's Edition
MAYS IBRAHIM (DUBAI)
The UAE is committed to protecting its sovereignty, people and national interests while keeping the door open to dialogue with Iran, Dr Anwar Gargash, Diplomatic Adviser to the UAE President, said on Thursday.
Speaking at the Arab Media Summit in Dubai, Dr Gargash said the UAE is focused on managing the current crisis with the least possible damage, while assessing what the future of the relationship with Iran could look like.
“There is a need for dialogue with Iran to find a new framework,” he said, stressing that future talks should go beyond trade, aviation and shipping to address broader issues including non-aggression.
“This crisis will end, and it is important to manage it rationally at this stage and pave the way for a new chapter,” the UAE official added.
But Dr Gargash said dialogue should not be confused with trust, which would take years to rebuild following what he described as major Iranian aggression against the UAE.
“We will protect our interests whenever necessary, but we will also remain flexible in communicating with the Iranian side,” he said.
The immediate priority, Dr Gargash added, is to end the war, arguing that it is not possible to negotiate a new future while threats and aggression continued.
“The UAE defended itself and will defend itself, but it is also extending a hand of friendship and dialogue,” Dr Gargash reiterated.
He also rejected the possibility of Iran imposing a “new reality” on the Strait of Hormuz, saying Tehran would ultimately need to take a realistic approach towards the countries surrounding it.
A stable regional environment, he noted, would be critical to Iran’s economic recovery and development after the war.
Dr Gargash added that the UAE would continue to safeguard its economic interests while managing the crisis, pursuing what he described as a “geo-economic” approach.
He cited President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s recent visit to Germany as an example of the country maintaining its international engagement despite the regional crisis.
