UAE: Gulf states no strangers to Iran's pressure

Anwar Gargash, advisor to the President of the United Arab Emirates, said Gulf countries have faced decades of pressure from Iran, leading to a loss of trust due to what he described as Tehran’s “aggressive rhetoric” and inconsistent messaging.

“We have grown accustomed to Iranian pressure over many decades, to the point that it has become part of the political landscape in the Gulf, while trust has been lost between aggressive rhetoric and empty statements of friendship,” Gargash wrote on X.

تعودنا على التنمر الإيراني عبر عقود طويلة حتى أصبح جزءًا من المشهد السياسي في الخليج العربي، وضاعت المصداقية بين خطاب عدواني وبيانات صداقة جوفاء.

واليوم، وبعد العدوان الإيراني الغاشم، يحاول النظام تكريس واقع جديد وُلد من هزيمة عسكرية واضحة، لكن محاولات التحكم بمضيق هرمز أو…

— د. أنور قرقاش (@AnwarGargash) May 21, 2026

“Today, after what we see as harsh Iranian aggression, the regime is attempting to cement a new reality following an evident military setback. However, attempts to control the Strait of Hormuz or to infringe upon the UAE’s maritime sovereignty are nothing more than unrealistic ambitions,” he added.

Gargash stressed that any country seeking coexistence with its Arab neighbours must recognise that trust has been eroded and can only be restored through responsible rhetoric, respect for sovereignty, and a genuine commitment to good neighbourly relations.

By Jeyhun Aghazada