United Arab Emirates Urges US To Step In To Reduce Middle East Conflict

Anwar Gargash/PHOTO via X @ AnwarGargash

JAKARTA - The United Arab Emirates is deeply concerned about the spread of regional warfare. The UAE urges the United States to play an effective role to ease tensions.

"At this critical moment, the UAE believes that America's strong and effective role is indispensable," said Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the UAE president.

He said there was a need to deescalate all lines, including Israel and Iran.

The UAE is a commercial and tourism hub in the Middle East and has strong economic ties to Israel and Iran.

According to the UAE, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian made a encouraging statement at the UN General Assembly last month, but the statement was marred by the current escalation.

Pezeshkian said at the United Nations his country was ready to engage with the West regarding its disputed nuclear program, and said Iran was ready to lay its gun if Israel did the same.

The UAE and Iran are major oil producers and Iran controls the Strait of Hormuz, a traffic lane of a third of the world's oil trade by sea.

US President Joe Biden has warned against Israeli attacks on Iranian oil interests.

Tehran in previous years had warned that if they could not sell its own oil, then they would also not allow other countries in the region to do the same.

Disruption with oil production in Middle Eastern countries can cause global oil prices to skyrocket. Gargash also stressed the need for a ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon.