Escalating hostilities marked renewed tensions in the ongoing US-Israeli conflict with Iran on Monday, amid reports of missile and drone attacks launched by Iran against targets in the United Arab Emirates. The Emirati Ministry of Defence confirmed the interception of three missiles, while officials in the emirate of Fujairah reported an Iranian drone strike that sparked a fire at an oil facility, resulting in moderate injuries to three Indian workers.
Iranian state media cited Iranian officials denying any intent to target the UAE directly but warned that Tehran would not overlook any involvement that assisted US or Israeli actions against it. These developments signal the first major clashes since a ceasefire between the US and Iran took effect on April 8. Two days prior, US President Donald Trump informed Congress that hostilities with Iran had ended, asserting he did not require legislative approval for the conflict beyond 60 days.
The attacks coincided with ongoing US efforts to challenge Iranian restrictions on shipping through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. President Trump announced plans to assist ships stranded by Iran’s blockade, stating that countries worldwide had requested US support in freeing their vessels from the strait. Trump emphasized that the US would “guide their ships safely out of these restricted waterways” and issued a stern warning that Iran would be obliterated if it targeted US ships protecting commercial traffic.
Following the attacks, US officials reported intercepting six small Iranian boats allegedly trying to impede commercial vessel passage through the strait, an account Tehran denied.
Despite the renewed clashes, two informed Pakistani sources from Islamabad indicated that diplomatic channels between the US and Iran, including direct and Pakistan-mediated talks, remain open. Although a second round of negotiations scheduled in Islamabad two weeks ago failed to convene, communications between the parties have not been completely severed. Pakistan serves as the official mediator, having brokered the initial round of discussions under the auspices of a recently formed regional Quartet comprising Egypt, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey.
The Quartet has met at various levels in Jeddah and Islamabad and continues to promote dialogue to end the conflict. Sources from Cairo and Ankara report that Egypt, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia are actively supporting the mediation efforts. Turkish diplomatic involvement, as noted by a Middle East policy expert, reflects a shared regional objective to avoid further conflict and stabilize the Gulf.
An Egyptian official highlighted defense and military cooperation agreements within the Quartet, such as the Pakistan-Saudi deal signed in late 2025 and the Egypt-Turkey military framework established earlier in 2026, underscoring the group's potential despite internal differences. Analysts caution, however, that sustained cooperation on other regional conflicts may prove more challenging given historical divergences.
The Quartet's future remains uncertain. Pakistani diplomat Maleeha Lodhi described it as an ad hoc platform focused on the Iran war without clarity on its evolution into a permanent alliance. Meanwhile, experts suggest that traditional regional organizations have diminished influence, giving way to flexible, issue-driven alliances.
The ongoing conflict also intersects with diplomatic efforts at the global level. Iran, a founding member of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), is engaged in UN deliberations on nuclear issues even as it faces attacks from the US and Israel over its nuclear program. Observers note that the conflict and the collapse of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) have strained assumptions about the applicability of international nuclear agreements, raising broader questions about the erosion of multilateralism.
On Tuesday, following a US-drafted UN Security Council resolution condemning Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz, Saudi Arabia called for the resumption of Pakistani-mediated talks to resolve the Gulf conflict. Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, and Kuwait participated in consultations on the draft resolution. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif urged respect for the ceasefire to create diplomatic space for dialogue aimed at lasting peace.
In a demonstration of regional solidarity, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman contacted UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed following the attacks. Egyptian and Saudi officials are also coordinating with their Pakistani counterparts to reinforce de-escalation measures.