UAE says hoping for breakthrough yet 'braced for the worst' in Iran-US war

The United Arab Emirates expressed optimism for a diplomatic breakthrough in negotiations between Iran and the United States, while simultaneously preparing for a potential escalation of the Middle East conflict, according to a senior UAE official. During a conference in Manama, the UAE's diplomatic adviser to the president, Anwar Gargash, emphasized the region's desire for a diplomatic resolution, stating that "it is not the interest of the region to go through another round."

However, he also admitted that the UAE is "braced for the worst" should negotiations fail to produce a favorable outcome.

Following a visit by a Qatari delegation to Tehran, Iran dispatched ambassadors to the UAE to continue indirect negotiations with the United States aimed at ending the ongoing war. US President Donald Trump, however, reiterated his threats on Saturday, warning that the US would take action against "one or two targets in Iran" if Iran continues to "take this region and the global economy hostage."

Assistant Secretary of Near Eastern Affairs at the US State Department, Donald Blome, noted that the US has kept its doors open for negotiations and is prepared to pursue an alternative course of action should diplomatic efforts prove unsuccessful.

On Saturday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also indicated that Trump had not yet made a decision regarding further strikes on Iran, but assured that the US would remain open to a diplomatic resolution. The conflict began on February 28 with joint US-Israeli strikes against Iran, to which Iran retaliated by targeting various Gulf countries that are allied with Washington.