Dr Anwar Gargash’s remarks on Iran crisis

Iran is now attempting to rebuild bridges with countries across the region. Yet it is important to remember that it was Iran that targeted those very bridges through its brutal aggression against the UAE and other Gulf states over the course of 40 days.

The UAE does not close the door to diplomacy, but we judge actions, not words.

The UAE faced more intense Iranian attacks than any other country, including Israel. The scale and breadth of this targeting defy any logical or rational explanation.

We are witnessing a battle of narratives aimed at shaping public opinion. The facts are clear: Iran lost, and the UAE prevailed. We faced over 2,800 Iranian missiles and drones, intercepting 96% of them.

Iran assumed the UAE was an exposed target, but we responded with competence and excellence. We are our proud of our nation, our leadership, our society, and the resilience of our economy.

We possess advanced defensive capabilities that we take great pride in. Our preparedness  in detecting, responding, and intercepting attacks  was advanced  and  supported in parallel by intense diplomatic engagement.

The UAE acted as a cohesive and fully integrated national system, responding decisively and effectively to this aggression.

We are a nation built on peace, development, and prosperity, but we have also demonstrated our ability to protect these achievements. We have emerged stronger.

The UAE believes that protecting its citizens and residents alike is both a moral duty and a core responsibility. International leaders who engaged with us thanked the UAE leadership  for protecting everyone.

Many citizens from all walks of life were willing to volunteer for national service. We are equally proud of the support shown by many residents who expressed their love and attachment to this land.

While tourism and the flow of visitors were affected since the beginning of the conflict, the number of residents remained stable. This reflects an attachment for this country and pride in its model that values the human being  and allows him to prosper.

The Iranian regime attacked all Gulf countries including the mediators and those with whom it has diplomatic and economic relations. This heinous aggression targeted Gulf states, including mediators and those maintaining diplomatic and economic ties with Iran. This was a broad act of aggression against the region as a whole.

We are clear in our position and have legitimate concerns about Iran’s nuclear programme, ballistic missiles, and drones capabilities. Just as Iran may seek guarantees and compensation, the UAE equally has the right to demand assurances that such attacks will not be repeated, along with appropriate compensation.

The UAE did not seek conflict, but it was imposed upon us, and we responded with strength and resolve.

Throughout the 40 days, our society remained cohesive and reassured. While we are not a society accustomed to war, we have demonstrated remarkable resilience under pressure.

We recognise that many Arab societies view Israel as the primary adversary. However, perspectives in the Gulf differ. Iran directly targeted Gulf states with thousands of missiles and drones. As a result, we do not trust it and consider it as our main enemy.

The greatest and most serious offers to support  the UAE’s defence came from Western countries. Some countries from whom we didn’t expect such support contacted us to offer tangible assistance, even when we didn’t need it.

Conversely, countries from whom we expected better support offered nothing at the beginning, their offer of assistance came very late.

For years, we have understood that threats to the UAE could take many forms, including missiles, drones, cyberattacks, and terrorism.

Under the leadership of President Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who is a military man, a comprehensive national system has been built, incorporating multilayered air defences, robust security frameworks, and advanced cyber capabilities.

We are proud of our armed forces and their capabilities, and we remain fully prepared for any escalation, should it arise, God forbid.

We were disappointed  by certain Arab and friendly parties during this crisis, though we will not dwell on those details.

We have supported the Palestinian cause and Gaza through concrete actions on the ground, such as providing humanitarian assistance, at a time when the Arab public was cheering    statements from countries that have not offered anything and attacking the UAE. 

The right of the Palestinian people to an independent state is a fundamental right that we believe in and support in the UAE.

We are firmly convinced that we are a nation that wants to be a pivotal part of the future, not a part of past narratives and ideological orientations.

We are an Arab and Muslim nation, striving  to be among the world’s most advanced countries. We invest in space exploration, science, and artificial intelligence, while building a diversified and successful economy.

We are committed to being a tolerant and moderate nation. We are a bright example of the Arab and Islamic world, and we seek to present the best model of moderation, progress and prosperity from the heart of this region. 

The Muslim Brotherhood remained silent on the attacks against Gulf states. They consider Iran as an ally.

 Some countries do not value human life, education, or healthcare, our approach is fundamentally different.

We have defended our citizens and every resident on our land, and provide them all with a quality of life that meets the highest global standards.

After this war, we are facing a more complex situation but the UAE is capable of navigating this reality, despite Iran’s aggression and regional challenges, and we will emerge stronger.

We have legitimate questions regarding the role and position  of the Arab League. The position of the Gulf Cooperation Council’ has been, weak politically and in terms of security in light  of what we witnessed over the past few days of blatant Iranian aggression.  Despite the important economic and social advantages for this council   ,

The role of the United States is likely to expand following this conflict as most of our weaponry and that of the Gulf states is American, and we rely on these systems which have proven their reliability in confronting the Iranian aggression . This Emirati and Gulf partnership with Washington.  is built on decades of trust, cooperation, and shared investment.