MANAMA: United Arab Emirates (UAE) presidential adviser Anwar Gargash said on Sunday his country hoped Iran-US talks would prevent another war but remained prepared for renewed fighting.
Gargash spoke at the International Institute for Strategic Studies’ Manama Dialogue in Bahrain. He said another round of military confrontation would not serve the region’s interests.
The UAE was “braced for the worst”, Gargash added. His remarks followed renewed diplomatic efforts to ease tensions between Washington and Tehran.
Qatari mediators have been working to restart indirect negotiations. Iranian envoys travelled to Qatar after a Qatari delegation visited Tehran earlier in the week.
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At the same conference, US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Donald Blome said diplomatic channels remained open.
He added that Washington was prepared to consider other options if negotiations failed. US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that Washington still had one or two targets in Iran to address.
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However, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Trump had not decided whether to order further strikes. Rubio said Washington remained open to a diplomatic solution.
