His Excellency Dr. Anwar bin Mohammed Gargash, Diplomatic Adviser to the UAE President, said the UAE's approach to the current situation is based on two parallel tracks. The first is managing the current crisis and confrontation while minimising damage. The second focuses on assessing the future shape of regional relations, given the region's geographical proximity and complex, interconnected ties.
Speaking during the session, "Media in the Time of Major Transformations," on the third day of the Arab Media Summit, moderated by Emad Eddin Adib, Gargash said there is a growing focus on understanding the current situation and finding a way out of it. He noted that the region remains in a state of crisis and confrontation, making it essential to manage this phase and limit its impact. At the same time, it is important to consider the nature of future relationships that will emerge after the crisis.
He said the realities of geography and interconnected relationships require looking beyond the current crisis. He noted that the region has witnessed the collapse of the previous security framework, creating a need for new understandings suited to the next phase.
Gargash said the UAE's approach to this complex situation is based on three main pillars. The first is deterrence and the defence of the UAE's sovereignty. The second is maintaining the flexibility needed for dialogue with Iran to establish a new framework for future relations. He said the current crisis will eventually come to an end and stressed the importance of managing it wisely. At the same time, efforts must be made to pave the way for a new chapter in the post-crisis period.
He added that the third pillar relates to the leadership's commitment to protecting the country's sovereignty and people. He said the UAE's leadership is focused on taking all necessary measures to safeguard the nation under the current circumstances.
Gargash stressed that, alongside managing the crisis, the UAE is continuing what he described as a "geo-economic policy" to ensure the uninterrupted progress of its economic and development agenda despite regional developments.
He highlighted the UAE's commitment to maintaining strong ties with the rest of the world, citing the successful visit of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to Germany. He stressed that the UAE does not want current developments to hinder its economic and development trajectory or its engagement with countries around the world.
His Excellency stressed the importance of distinguishing between maintaining relations with Iran and rebuilding trust. He said that continued relations, communication and dialogue are driven by practical considerations related to geography, history and shared interests. However, rebuilding trust, in his view, will take many years.
Gargash said relations between Iran and the countries of the region are essential and therefore require ongoing communication and dialogue. He said this dialogue should not be confined to day-to-day issues such as trade, aviation and maritime affairs. It should also address deeper issues, including guarantees of non-aggression and discussions about a future that preserves stability for both sides and the wider region.
He explained that such matters are part of building a relationship, while trust is a separate issue. Restoring trust, he said, will require many years in light of what he described as the "major aggression" faced by Gulf countries. He argued that the preparations for this aggression had been made long before and were not the result of an immediate decision. He added that it targeted not only the UAE, but the Gulf states as a whole.
He said relations should be approached from a pragmatic and realistic perspective that takes into account the nature of the region, its geography, history and existing ties. Building trust, however, is subject to different considerations and requires time.
Responding to a question about the immediate steps Iran should take to contribute to peace and stability in the region, Gargash noted that the Iranian president had publicly described Iran's attack on Gulf states as a "major mistake". He said the mistake was strategic in nature. While it may have achieved short-term goals, it created a more complicated situation for Iran in the long run.
He said Iran's multiple centres of decision-making need to adopt a different view of Gulf countries from the one that led to the decision to attack them. He stressed that the first step in that direction is refraining from targeting Gulf states.
He added that this also applies to other issues, including the use of militias, attacks on some Gulf countries, and attempts to impose a new reality in the Strait of Hormuz. He said Iran would not be able to impose such a reality and that what is needed is a realistic approach to the region and its surroundings.
Gargash said the countries neighbouring Iran are best placed to help mediate and support efforts to move the country out of its current crisis. He added that they could also contribute in the future to restoring Iran's economic and development prospects, which he said would be affected by the war.
"The first step is to stop tensions in any form," he said. He explained that it is impossible to negotiate a new future while threats and attacks continue. Ending tensions, he said, is the starting point for shaping a different future.
Responding to a question about Iranian accusations that the UAE had taken actions against Iran, Gargash said the UAE has defended itself and will continue to do so, while also extending a hand of friendship and keeping the door open to dialogue. He noted the presence of multiple centres of decision-making within Iran and said some statements may reflect the views of more hardline factions.
In response to a question about whether Iran's decisions are made unilaterally, Gargash noted that since 1989, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has had the final say in Iran's decision-making. He said it would be difficult for any individual or institution to inherit that role in the same way. He added that engagement today requires dealing with multiple centres of influence within Iran. He said he would not describe them as "belligerent", but rather as "different", which helps explain the variation in statements and positions emerging from within the country.