UAE Withholds Praise for U.S.-Iran Deal, Citing Deep Distrust of Tehran

The United Arab Emirates did not endorse the memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran that is meant to end the war between the United States and Iran, according to a report Monday by Roi Kais on Kan News. While most Gulf and regional states welcomed the deal, Abu Dhabi declined to congratulate either side.

Instead, the UAE issued a statement emphasizing the importance of dialogue and diplomacy. It also stressed that there must be full commitment to the agreement’s clauses, wording that was directed primarily at Iran.

A former Emirati government official told Kan News that the cautious language reflected a lack of confidence in Tehran. “Trust in Iran does not exist,” he said. “It has to provide strong and solid guarantees that it will not return to its old ways. The ball is now in Tehran’s court.”

The UAE’s stance is notable because it was hit by the largest number of attacks during the war, and its response contrasted with the broad public support expressed by most other countries in the region.