Pezeshkian Says Iran and UAE Want to ‘Turn the Page’ on War, Pg14

Key Highlights:

• Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian announced that Iran and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) aim to "turn the page" on strained relations following the recent war in West Asia.
• This agreement was reached during a constructive exchange between Pezeshkian and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled Bin Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in New Delhi.
• The relations between the two nations had deteriorated after U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran in February, leading to Iranian retaliation against U.S. allies, including the UAE.
• Concurrently, an Iranian commercial ship was struck off Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz, resulting in one fatality.
• The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) also reported a vessel being hit by a projectile while transiting the strait.
• Iran plans to brief Gulf states in Oman on managing shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz to establish a regional framework for security cooperation.

Detailed Insights:

• The meeting between Pezeshkian and Al Nahyan occurred during the 18th BRICS Summit, hosted by India in New Delhi from September 12-13, 2026.
• Historically, Iran-UAE relations have been complex, fluctuating between cooperation and competition, with recent military escalations terminating a period of cautious de-escalation.
• The Strait of Hormuz is a crucial maritime chokepoint connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, vital for global oil and gas shipments.
• Iran has been actively seeking to formalize its control over the waterway, including proposals for charging passage fees, and has engaged in negotiations with Oman regarding this.
• U.S. President Donald Trump commented on Iran's regional meeting, suggesting the U.S. could "keep the oil" from Iran, drawing parallels to Venezuela's oil reserves.
• The ongoing West Asia crisis has significantly impacted the Strait of Hormuz, posing threats to global energy security and maritime shipping.

Key Concepts Involved:

• BRICS: An intergovernmental organization of emerging economies, including Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE by 2026, focused on strengthening cooperation.
• Strait of Hormuz: A narrow, strategically important waterway between Iran and Oman, connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, through which a significant portion of the world's oil and gas transits.
• United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO): A British Royal Navy-sponsored organization that serves as a primary liaison for merchant vessels to coordinate and share information with military forces in high-risk maritime areas, including the Arabian Sea, Red Sea, and Persian Gulf.