A senior United Arab Emirates official described the ongoing conflict involving Iran as an unsustainable situation, emphasizing the need for a political resolution after recent hostilities continued to escalate. Anwar Gargash, a diplomatic adviser to the UAE president, expressed concern over the prolonged state of neither war nor peace in the region, which he said was failing to provide stability.

Gargash’s comments came following a drone attack launched by Iran toward the UAE on Monday. The UAE Defense Ministry confirmed that the drone was intercepted over its territorial waters, contradicting Iran’s military claim that the target was the Al Minhad Air Base in Dubai.

The clash is part of a broader conflict between the United States and Iran, which has persisted for over six months, involving indirect confrontations and attacks impacting several Gulf countries, including Jordan. Gargash specifically mentioned the failure of policies focused on targeting the Arab Gulf states and Jordan, dismissing them as ineffective.

He called for pragmatic and lasting political solutions that address both the political and economic dimensions of the crisis. Gargash highlighted the urgency of de-escalating tensions and restoring normal navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway for global oil shipments, as a starting point. Additionally, he noted the insufficiency of the existing memorandum of understanding, which he said lacked a practical roadmap to resolve the conflict.

The UAE’s stance underscores the increasing pressure on regional actors and international stakeholders to seek diplomatic approaches to prevent further deterioration of security in the Gulf amid ongoing hostilities involving Iran.