UAE presidential adviser Anwar Gargash said the conflict is moving toward greater economic pressure as Washington expands sanctions on Iran and its economic partners.
Abu Dhabi: The war involving Iran has entered a “new phase” as the United States expands economic sanctions against Tehran and entities conducting business with Iran, UAE diplomatic adviser Dr Anwar Gargash has said.
The new phase will be defined by increasing economic pressure, Gargash said, while efforts to seize control of the Strait of Hormuz will come to an end.
He also said Iran’s attacks against Arab Gulf states had failed to achieve their intended objective and had instead increased Tehran’s isolation.
“Iran’s aggression against the Arab Gulf states missed its target,” Gargash said, describing it as a “gravely misguided strategic choice” that had weakened Iran’s position.
He urged Iran to engage with Gulf states as part of efforts to end the conflict.
“The path out of this war does not lie through targeting the Arab Gulf states, but rather through working with them to pave the way for de-escalation and the pursuit of a political exit from the conflict.”
UAE calls for an end to hostilities
The UAE has repeatedly called on Iran to stop attacks that threaten regional peace and stability.
Abu Dhabi has also called for an immediate and complete end to hostilities and stressed the need for the Strait of Hormuz to reopen fully and unconditionally.
The waterway is a critical route for global energy and trade, making its continued disruption a major concern for regional economies and international markets.
On August 18, following the detection of missiles, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the country would suspend trade and financial transactions with Iran.
UAE official Afra Al Hameli also rejected what she described as allegations about the nature of the UAE-Iran economic relationship.
She reiterated the UAE’s commitment to “dialogue, cooperation, and regional integration” as tools for promoting peace, stability and prosperity in the region.
US expands Iran sanctions.
Washington has significantly widened its sanctions campaign against Iran.
The latest measures cover five areas:
- Digital assets
- Technology
- Gold
- Aviation
- Shipping
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described the broader campaign as an effort to economically isolate Iran and warned countries that continue supporting Tehran’s economy.
“Around the globe, our objective is to sever every economic lifeline that sustains this tyrannical regime until Tehran stands alone,” Bessent said.
The measures come as Washington seeks to increase pressure on Iran’s economy following its military campaign against the country.
Iran rejects the pressure.
Iran has rejected the latest US measures.
Iranian Economy Minister Ali Madanizadeh described the sanctions as another defeat for Washington and said Tehran had been preparing for such measures.
He said the Iranian government had a two-year plan to manage the impact of the new economic pressure.
Earlier, Bessent described the US campaign as an “economic D-Day” in an article for the Financial Times, calling it the largest financial offensive the US had assembled against an adversary.
Bessent said the economic campaign followed US military operations that, according to Washington, had severely damaged Iran’s military capabilities, military production facilities and nuclear programme.
The latest developments point to a shift away from direct attempts to control the Strait of Hormuz and towards a broader economic campaign designed to isolate Tehran.
For the UAE, Gargash’s message is clear. The path towards ending the conflict runs through de-escalation, regional dialogue and cooperation with Gulf states, rather than further attacks on the Arab Gulf.
Read more news and follow us on Instagram.
Anwar Gargash, Diplomatic Adviser to the UAE President. Photo: Shihab/KT
