UAE official says Iran nuclear talks show progress but war remains possible
UAE Defense Committee chairman Dr. Ali Rashid Al Nuaimi expressed cautious optimism about U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiations mediated by Qatar, while noting that the risk of renewed conflict cannot be dismissed.
Dubai – Dr. Ali Rashid Al Nuaimi, chairman of the Defense, Interior and Foreign Affairs Committee of the UAE's Federal National Council, told Fox News Digital that recent diplomatic activity shows "some progress" in the United States-Iran nuclear talks facilitated by Qatar. He said the UAE hopes the parties can build trust and find a political solution, adding that he is "a little bit optimistic, but I don't exclude the other option" regarding the possibility of war.
Al Nuaimi noted that the United Arab Emirates continues to prepare for worst-case scenarios while hoping for a diplomatic breakthrough, stating, "We plan for the worst. We hope for the best. … We always make sure that we are ready to deal with all the challenges or the threats."
The remarks follow reports that Iran submitted a new nuclear proposal to Washington through Qatar, while Tehran maintains that the United States must meet seven conditions, including sanctions relief and the end of the naval blockade, before negotiations can move forward.
President Donald Trump has not ruled out further military action, and Iran has warned of broader retaliation if fighting resumes. The UAE, which endured more than 3,000 Iranian missile and drone attacks earlier this year, stresses that any aggression would be met with defense of its people and sovereignty.
Al Nuaimi distinguished between the Iranian regime and its people, saying, "The Iranian people deserve to be respected, accepted. They have great values, great civilization, and they are our neighbor."
He also emphasized that the UAE’s partnership with the United States is based on long-term strategic interests rather than any single administration, adding, "Our main partnership is with the United States as a nation, with the American people."
At the opening of ADIPEC 2026 in Abu Dhabi, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology Dr. Sultan Al Jaber highlighted the country’s preparedness, noting that its resilience plan was developed years before the current crisis.
Security experts in the UAE, including Mohammed Baharoon of the research centre B'huth, described the broader security challenge as encompassing energy, food, infrastructure and global trade, arguing that resilience now functions as deterrence.
The UAE continues to host international business and tourism while maintaining heightened alertness amid ongoing regional tensions.