‘이란 자금 통로’ UAE “이란과 무역·금융 거래 중단” 협상 압박

The Arab Emirates, once a financial conduit for Iran, announced on the 18th that it will suspend all trade and financial transactions with Iran, moving to increase economic pressure on the country. In a joint statement, UAE's diplomatic advisor Aparah Hameli stated, "Considering the recent situation of heightened tensions within and outside the region, we will suspend all trade, commercial exchanges, and financial transactions with Iran until further notice."

She reiterated Iran's lack of trust in economic relations, stating, "We are firmly committed to dialogue and cooperation, regional integration, for advancing peace, stability, and prosperity." The move comes as the UAE expands its embargo, following the American-led naval blockade of Iran. Iran had halted all official trade with the UAE using tankers and container ships after the US-imposed sanctions, but suspicions arose that Iran continued unofficial transactions through a network.

The UAE observed that Iran had used hundreds of ghost companies in Dubai to receive foreign currency and generate billions in revenue from oil exports before the war. The US has warned that it may impose unprecedented economic sanctions on Iran. Iranian negotiator Mohammad Bargirapeffi acknowledged the pressure but warned, "There is no threshold where the people would bear economic hardships."

He emphasized that the regime cannot survive without provoking the nation. This announcement follows the UAE's claim that it intercepted an Iranian missile, which landed in the sea, after an attack on the port of Busra on May 5. Iran dismissed the accusation as "baseless" and denied launching a missile. The US and Iran have halted negotiations since the attack.

President Trump tweeted, "There are no ongoing or planned talks or dialogues with Iran," and posted a map image titled, "New U.S. Territory-Hormuz Strait." Despite the US controlling the strait, Iran has increased attacks on oil tankers, and the US has refrained from military retaliation. In the Hormuz Strait, an Omani oil tanker was attacked, resulting in one sailor's death.

The UAE's chief negotiator, Alireza Bargirapeffi, warned the international community, "Sanctions, asset freezes, oil bans, and military threats will not lift the strait." When Iraqi Minister of Foreign Affairs Avahs Aragchi was interviewed, he stated, "While some countries have proposed negotiations, our response to all of them was unequivocal: we seek an end to the conflict, not a ceasefire."