The United Arab Emirates issued a formal statement expressing deep concern over the latest regional developments and calling for an immediate end to hostilities, a swift return to negotiations and full protection of civilians and vital infrastructure, in its most direct public intervention since the US-Iran conflict entered its most intense phase this week.
The UAE stressed the critical importance of ensuring uninterrupted navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, describing freedom of passage as essential to both regional and global security. The statement stopped short of naming Iran directly but came after Iranian cruise missiles struck two UAE national oil tankers, the Mombasa and Al Bahiyah, inside Omani territorial waters, killing one crew member and injuring eight others.
The UAE has been among the Gulf states most directly targeted by Iran since the conflict resumed following the collapse of the June 17 ceasefire. Air defences have intercepted Iranian missiles on multiple occasions last week, and the UAE confirmed a child was wounded by shrapnel from an interception earlier this week.
US Central Command has struck more than 9,000 Iranian military targets since the war began on February 28.
The UAE maintains diplomatic channels with both Washington and Tehran and has positioned itself as a potential bridge toward de-escalation alongside Qatar and Oman.
