UAE govt mulls alternative routes for oil exports

According to Dawn, the United Arab Emirates is building alternative routes so that its energy exports and trade are not disrupted by the continuing conflict between Washington and Tehran. Presidential adviser Anwar Gargash made the remarks on Monday at the Hili Forum in Abu Dhabi. He said the country has been boosting harbour capacity on its eastern seaboard while developing pipelines, railways and trade corridors.

Gargash acknowledged that ties with Tehran might eventually improve, yet he cautioned that restoring trust after the attacks may require decades. He also faulted fellow Gulf Arab states for lacking a joint approach toward Iran. Qatar's foreign ministry spokesperson, Majed al-Ansari, voiced comparable worries, arguing that Gulf countries cannot depend only on Washington for their protection.

Iran had earlier fired missiles at the Emirates and struck its oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, then carried out its threat to close the waterway that once carried a fifth of global energy supplies. That disruption sent energy prices higher and helped trigger a global economic crisis. The strait remains a central sticking point in Washington and Tehran talks mediated by Qatar and Pakistan, with Iran claiming a share of the waterway for itself and Oman, a view most Gulf states reject. Gargash said freedom of navigation is non-negotiable and that any lasting settlement needs credible guarantees against further Iranian attacks on Gulf states.