Restoring Trust with Iran Remains a Formidable Challenge, Warns Dr Anwar Gargash

Rebuilding trust with Iran will remain a difficult task even if diplomatic relations are successfully restored, according to Dr Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to President Sheikh Mohamed. Speaking on Monday at the Hili Forum in Abu Dhabi following six months of war and Iranian attacks on Gulf states, Dr Gargash emphasized the scale of the challenge.

“Relations can be restored more quickly than trust,” Dr Gargash stated, adding, “Trust is a mountain we will have to climb.” Despite the hurdles, he noted that a pathway toward mending relations exists, suggesting that the Gulf could unlock significant economic opportunities if Iran and its neighbours established a durable principle of non-belligerence and mutual respect.

Dr Gargash described Iran’s aggression against Gulf states as “a serious strategic miscalculation” that damaged regional relationships and deepened its international isolation. He stressed that resolving the conflict requires de-escalation, bridge-building, and a lasting political settlement rather than threats.

Future diplomatic engagement, he argued, must go beyond transactional matters to tackle broader strategic concerns such as regional security, non-interference, freedom of navigation, and economic cooperation. “If diplomacy is to succeed, Iran’s intentions will ultimately have to be judged by its actions, not simply by its words,” he said.

The conflict escalated at the end of February following US and Israeli air attacks against Iran, prompting Tehran to retaliate by striking US Gulf allies and effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz—a crucial maritime transit route for global oil, liquefied natural gas, and fertilizer shipments.

While Tehran claimed its targets were limited to US interests, Iranian forces struck vital energy and civilian infrastructure across all six Gulf states. According to Dr Gargash, Iran launched approximately 3,300 missiles and drones at the UAE, primarily targeting civilian infrastructure indiscriminately. Similar attacks impacted Kuwait, where power, water, and airport facilities were damaged, and Qatar, where missile strikes hit QatarEnergy’s facilities at Ras Laffan. Critical energy infrastructure in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, alongside commercial vessels such as Adnoc tankers, Saudi-owned, and Qatari-owned ships in the Strait of Hormuz, were also targeted.

Addressing the broader geopolitical shifts, Dr Gargash warned of a more complex and uncertain regional environment, affirming that the UAE will continue pursuing strategic autonomy as a rational policy choice to safeguard its national interests. He also noted that regional and international responses to the crisis had been underwhelming, calling for a more unified and strategic collective approach among Gulf states moving forward.