The UAE called for urgent political intervention to stabilize Gaza and reduce Iran tensions, saying that the Middle East cannot afford another large-scale conflict on top of the Gaza war.
In a speech at the World Government Summit in Dubai on Tuesday, Dr. Anwar Gargash, the diplomatic adviser to UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, said that a sustainable Gaza solution must address Palestinian statehood and Israeli security through international cooperation.
“The way forward in Gaza is political,” Gargash said. “The Middle East has already suffered from devastating confrontations; it does not need another flare-up, whether in Gaza or with Iran.”
A sustainable Gaza solution, he said, must be based on a collective framework that includes Palestinians, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, and international stakeholders, with the United States playing a central role in formulating a political solution. Gargash also rejected suggestions that the UAE may have a governance role in Gaza, saying that the UAE has no separate national agenda in the territory. “Governance and reconstruction must be rooted in a broader political process,” he said, highlighting the UAE’s continued role as a leading humanitarian donor.
Regarding Iran, Gargash cautioned that outstanding questions regarding the Iranian nuclear program and its attitude in the region could spark a second crisis in a region already beset by turmoil. He called for direct talks between the U.S. and Iran, suggesting that the economic and strategic pressure on Tehran makes it clear that a “comprehensive political and geostrategic agreement” is necessary. “In my view, from everything I know, Iran today needs a deal,” he said. “Without a broader understanding, Iran’s nuclear file will remain a constant source of instability in the region.”
The same logic, Gargash suggested, applies to both Gaza and Iran: “A political solution must substitute force or prolonged confrontation.” He suggested that serious moves toward Palestinian statehood that also provide security for Israel, and a nuclear deal to limit Iranian ambitions and restore it to the international community, could calm the region and open the way for reconstruction and economic development.
The UAE’s comments are made in a region that is seeing increasing levels of instability, with the Gaza conflict continuing to draw international attention and the Iranian nuclear program remaining at the forefront of international concern. Gargash’s comments reflect the importance of diplomacy and strategic thinking to Abu Dhabi’s vision for the region.
