Anwar Gargash: Saudi Arabia’s security is the UAE’s security, and the relationship with Iran requires realism

Dr. Anwar Gargash, diplomatic advisor to UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, confirmed on Thursday, during his session at the Arab Media Summit in Dubai, that Saudi Arabia’s security is the UAE’s security, in light of the attacks launched by the Houthis on the Kingdom. Gargash spoke about his country’s approach in dealing with Iran, and the meeting of Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khalid bin Mohammed bin Zayed with Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian.

Gargash explained that the UAE's approach in dealing with Iran "is based on three aspects: The first aspect is deterrence and defending the sovereignty of the UAE. The second aspect is the flexibility required for dialogue with Iran to find a new formulation, because this crisis will eventually end, and what is important is to manage it wisely at this stage, and thus pave the way for a new page. The third aspect is that the UAE, in managing this crisis, its first commitment is to the sovereignty of this country."

Gargash said, "The UAE's approach is that the UAE will protect its interests, and our primary responsibility is towards our country and its sovereignty, and towards the people of this country and its achievements. We will protect our interests as they require, but we will be flexible in communicating with the Iranian side."

Regarding the meeting of Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khalid bin Mohammed bin Zayed with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in India, Gargash said: “Of course, President Pezeshkian has made many statements, perhaps the best among the statements of all Iranian officials during this ongoing crisis, and appreciation must also be given to him. He was the first to criticize the policy of targeting the Gulf states, and he was the first to demand that Iran stop targeting the Gulf states.”

He added: "We must also say that this voice is rational in a time of crisis, and such a voice must be appreciated, because these voices are the ones that will get the region out of the crisis, whether they are the first decision maker, or they are not the first decision maker, or so on."

Gargash continued, saying: “But the important point in my estimation is that the meeting was very good between His Highness Sheikh Khalid bin Mohammed and the Iranian President. We do not say that there is complete agreement in the ideas presented, but there is agreement that the page must be turned and the future must be looked at, and the future cannot resemble what we are in today, and this is in the interest of Iran, the interest of the Emirates, and the interest of the Gulf states.”

Gargash stressed that “there must be communication and there must be dialogue,” and said: “This dialogue must go beyond daily matters, from commercial movement, aviation, ships, etc., to also address more profound aspects related to the issue of ensuring non-aggression, and the shape of the future that preserves stability for the two countries and the region.”

Gargash added that these matters are placed under the umbrella of the relationship, but he explained that “the relationship is one thing and trust is another thing, and trust in my estimation will require many years, because in the end we faced a very large Iranian aggression, and it was clear that this aggression was premeditated and was not the result of an immediate decision, but rather it was advance preparation not only on the Emirates, but on the Gulf states as a whole.”

Gargash continued, saying: "There is a distinction between the relationship that must be dealt with, whatever it is, with a realistic, pragmatic outlook that reads the region, geography, and history, and trust is another topic."

Regarding the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, Gargash believed that the attempt to impose a new reality in the Strait of Hormuz will not succeed. He said: “In my estimation, Iran will be unable to impose this reality, and there must be realism in the Iranian approach towards the surrounding region.”

He added: "Because this surrounding region is the region that will mediate in order to help Iran get out of this crisis, and it is the region that will help in the future to return to the development and economic aspect that Iran is suffering from today after this war."

In the same session, Gargash stressed that "the security of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the security of the UAE, and this security is interconnected regardless of the circumstances."

He said: “I believe that our basic conviction today is that the stability of the Gulf system is in complete interdependence, and a stable and successful Saudi Arabia is in our interest, and even from an economic perspective, if there is prosperity in the Emirates, for example, it is in the interest of everyone, and if there is prosperity in Saudi Arabia, it is in the interest of everyone.” He added: "Saudi Arabia's security is in our interest, and anything that affects Saudi Arabia's security ultimately affects our security."

In light of the attacks launched by the Yemeni Houthi group on Saudi territory, Gargash stressed that "the attempt to target Mecca is approved, and the attempt to target any area in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is rejected."

Gargash said: “The region has truly suffered from militias, whether Hezbollah in Lebanon, or the militias present in Iraq, and what we also see in Yemen in terms of repeated crises over the past ten years. Therefore, the position of the UAE is towards strengthening the national state in all these places, and weapons outside the control of the state are weapons that are exploited not for the security of the country in question, but rather to undermine it.”