Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The United Arab Emirates urged Iran and the United States to resolve a standoff that has prompted mutual threats of air strikes as the two sides prepare to resume talks this week. The UAE said the Middle East does not need another war.
Talks scheduled in Turkey
Iran and the United States will discuss Iran’s nuclear programme on Friday in Turkey, Iranian and U.S. officials told Reuters on Monday. U.S. President Donald Trump said that with big U.S. warships heading to Iran, “bad things” would probably happen if a deal could not be reached.
UAE calls for direct negotiations
The UAE, a Gulf Arab power and close U.S. ally, said the region cannot afford another conflict. Anwar Gargash, an adviser to the UAE president, said at a panel at the World Governments Summit in Dubai that the region has gone through “various calamitous confrontations” and that he would like to see direct Iranian-American negotiations leading to understandings.
Gargash said Iran should rebuild its relationship with Washington to reach a wider geo-strategic deal that could help Tehran repair its economy, which he said has been ravaged by U.S. sanctions.
Gulf concerns and recent strike history
Gulf Arab states are worried that Iran will carry out its threat to target U.S. bases on their territory should Trump attack Iran again.
In June, the United States struck Iranian nuclear targets, joining at the close of a 12-day Israeli bombing campaign. Since then, Tehran has said its uranium enrichment work has stopped, and that it is for peaceful, not military purposes.
Satellite imagery shows limited changes at sites
Recent satellite imagery of two targeted sites, Isfahan and Natanz, appears to show new roofing over two previously destroyed buildings, according to imagery provided by Planet Labs and reviewed by Reuters. The imagery showed no other signs of rebuilding.
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