UAE Hopes for Diplomatic Breakthrough Between US and Iran, Prepares for Worst

MANAMA: (Web Desk)  The United Arab Emirates is hoping for a diplomatic breakthrough in negotiations between Iran and the United States while remaining prepared for the possibility of renewed conflict in the Middle East, a senior Emirati official said on Sunday.

Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the UAE president, made the remarks during a conference in Manama, saying another round of fighting would not serve the interests of the region.

“We’re hoping that there is a diplomatic breakthrough,” Gargash said, adding that the UAE was also “braced for the worst”, as it had demonstrated previously.

His comments came amid renewed concerns over a possible resumption of hostilities between Washington and Tehran.

Following a visit to Tehran this week by a Qatari delegation, Iran has sent envoys to Qatar to continue consultations as part of indirect negotiations with the United States aimed at ending the war.

However, US President Donald Trump renewed his threats on Saturday, saying Washington still had to “take care of” one or two targets in Iran.

Speaking at the Manama conference on Sunday, US Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs Donald Blome said Washington would not allow Iran to hold the region and the global economy hostage.

“The hand of negotiation has been extended, and those channels have continued to be open and active at the same time,” Blome said, while adding that the United States was also prepared to pursue another course of action.

On Saturday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Trump had not made a decision on launching fresh strikes against Iran and that Washington remained open to a diplomatic solution.

The conflict began on February 28 with joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran. Tehran retaliated by targeting several locations, including countries in the Gulf allied with Washington.