Iran mistrust over Hormuz deepens as peace efforts stall
Updated
Updated · Reuters · May 1
Iran mistrust over Hormuz deepens as peace efforts stall
14 articles · Updated · Reuters · May 1
UAE adviser Anwar Gargash said unilateral Iranian arrangements for the strait were unreliable as the waterway stayed largely closed two months into the war.
A ceasefire has held since April 8, but Trump is weighing options including possible new strikes, while Iran has activated air defences and threatened retaliation.
The blockade has disrupted about 20% of global oil and gas supplies, lifting Brent above $111 a barrel, as Washington explores a maritime coalition to reopen shipping.
With a US blockade and Iranian defiance, is the Hormuz conflict heading towards a wider war or a frozen stalemate?
As the UAE pivots from OPEC to a US-Israel alliance, is a new Middle East power bloc emerging from the chaos?
With the world's biggest oil chokepoint blocked, is this crisis forcing a permanent and rapid shift away from fossil fuels?
UAE’s 2025–2026 Strategic Pivot: Iron Dome Defense, OPEC Exit, and the Battle for Gulf Security
Overview
From 2025 to 2026, escalating conflict between Iran and Israel triggered Iranian missile attacks that extended to the UAE, prompting the deployment of Israel's Iron Dome defense system on Emirati soil and urgent international military support. Facing direct threats and geopolitical tensions, the UAE withdrew from OPEC in 2026 to gain greater control over oil production, despite short-term constraints from conflict and blockades. To secure vital energy routes, the UAE increased use of its Abu Dhabi pipeline to bypass the Strait of Hormuz and led diplomatic and military efforts to keep the strait open. Deepening regional divides, especially with Saudi Arabia, fueled Iranian attacks and fractured Gulf unity. The UAE balances maximizing oil revenues and economic diversification while managing rising security costs amid ongoing threats.