GCC wary of renewed US-Iran tensions, UAE says it is ‘braced for the worst’
. . . as Trump renews Iran strike threat, says US may have to ‘give them the hammer’
- Regional concerns over renewed fighting are evident. It is not the interest of the region to go through another round, but the UAE is braced for the worst — Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the UAE President.
US President Donald Trump has renewed his threat of military action against Iran, warning that Washington may eventually have to launch further strikes, as Tehran cautioned that any renewed confrontation could be longer and wider than the previous conflict.
Speaking at a rally in Dubuque, Iowa, on Sunday, a day before the US midterm elections, Trump said he had so far held back from further attacks in an effort to avoid additional casualties. “The only reason why I’m not finished with Iran is I want to be nice,” he told supporters, adding, “But at some point we’re going to have to give them the hammer.”
Trump had earlier indicated that Washington still had one or two targets to address in Iran, suggesting they could be struck within minutes. He specifically referred to Pickaxe Mountain, a suspected underground nuclear facility, as tensions continued over the possibility of renewed US-Israeli military operations.
The latest warning comes amid uncertainty surrounding diplomatic efforts to prevent a resumption of the military campaign against Iran, which began on February 28.
US media reported that Trump discussed negotiations with Tehran and the possibility of further military action with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday. Axios reported that Netanyahu was pressing for an immediate strike after the US midterm elections, while Trump wanted to allow diplomacy more time.
Iranian military officials responded with warnings that any new conflict could be more prolonged. Army spokesman Mohammad Akraminia said Washington would not be able to determine the timing or terms of another war, while Revolutionary Guards spokesman Hossein Mohebbi warned that a confrontation would have “no geographical limitations”.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran remained prepared for both diplomacy and defence, expressing hope that Washington would choose negotiations. Meanwhile, Iran’s security chief Mohsen Rezaei said he had received a letter from US Vice President JD Vance seeking to revive talks, although Tehran had not yet responded.
Iran has set several conditions for negotiations, including the release of frozen assets, an end to the US naval blockade of Iranian ports, sanctions relief and a comprehensive cessation of hostilities. The Strait of Hormuz, a critical international energy shipping route, remains a major point of contention.
Regional concerns over renewed fighting were also evident in remarks by Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the UAE president. Speaking at a conference in Manama, he said the UAE hoped diplomatic efforts would produce a breakthrough but was preparing for the possibility of further conflict. “It is not the interest of the region to go through another round,” he said, adding that the UAE was “braced for the worst.”
