Anwar Gargash called for treating the Strait of Hormuz as an international waterway subject to international law, stressing that the threat to navigation is unacceptable, and that building trust with Iran may take decades, stressing the need to limit decisions about war and peace to the hands of states, not armed groups.
AI-generated summary
The Strait of Hormuz region has seen months of escalation and unrest that have affected international trade and shipping.
Gargash said that no country should impose its unilateral control over the Strait of Hormuz, calling for treating it as an international waterway governed by the rules of international law. He added, "It is not acceptable for oil tankers and ships to remain under constant threat" in this strategic corridor.
Gargash indicated during the "Hailey Forum" in Abu Dhabi that dealing with Iran will remain a pivotal issue for the UAE and the Gulf states, but he said that rebuilding trust with Tehran, after months of escalation and unrest that affected the movement of trade and shipping, may take decades.
Gargash stressed the need for war and peace decisions in the region not to be in the hands of armed groups, calling for respect for the sovereignty of states and non-interference in their internal affairs, and for a clear path to address the Iranian nuclear file in a way that contributes to reducing escalation and achieving regional stability.
The UAE is working to enhance the flexibility of supply chains and open alternative paths to secure the flow of trade and energy, including options for transporting and exchanging shipments outside the Strait of Hormuz. However, according to specialized estimates, these alternatives cannot compensate for the full volume of usual flows through the strait.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel Aty affirmed Egypt's absolute rejection of any attempts aimed at dismantling UNRWA or affecting its legal entity, calling for ensuring the access of aid to the Gaza Strip.

The Governor of Hodeidah, Al-Hassan Taher, announced the advance of Yemeni government forces in the West Coast and Taiz axes, and the restoration of control over the entire Hays District, with the continuation of military operations to defeat the Houthis and secure vital areas amid ongoing field escalation.
The Alternative for Germany party won 43.8% in the Saxony-Anhalt state parliament elections, amid expectations that these results will impact the German political scene, after Iceland recently refused to start negotiations to join the European Union.

A Qatari delegation arrived in Tehran to hold talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi with the aim of reducing regional tensions, as part of a series of diplomatic moves that also include the Sultanate of Oman and Pakistan.

The Yemeni government forces expanded the scope of their military operations by opening a new axis in Al-Jawf Governorate, in conjunction with a counterattack on the West Coast, Taiz, Ma’rib, and Al-Bayda, amid reports of collapses in the Houthi ranks and the liberation of strategic sites.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ismail Baghaei accused Washington of violating the understandings, stressing that Tehran and Oman are in the final stages of securing navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, and warning of an Iranian response if the International Atomic Energy Agency adopts a resolution against his country.