Are the UAE Playing a Mediation Role Between Iran and the United States?

The spokesperson for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ismail Baghaei, announced yesterday that Anwar Gargash, diplomatic advisor to the UAE President, had delivered a message from U.S. President Donald Trump to Tehran.

According to the London-based newspaper Al-Arab, the Trump administration’s reliance on the UAE as a communication channel with the Iranians positions them as a credible regional actor in the eyes of both the United States and Iran. It also reflects Washington’s confidence in Emirati diplomacy and in Abu Dhabi.

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Iranian state media previously reported that Gargash was scheduled to meet with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Wednesday. However, Baghaei did not provide details about the meeting.

The UAE is a key U.S. partner in the Middle East and maintains good relations with Tehran. Despite occasional tensions in their bilateral relations, trade between the two countries has remained strong.

The UAE’s role as a communication channel between Washington and Tehran is reinforced by the absence of another qualified regional actor for this mission. Their involvement aims to ease rising tensions fueled by statements and counterstatements and to soften stances on sensitive political issues. This step precedes any mediation efforts toward a new agreement on Iran’s nuclear program, replacing the 2015 deal.

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The UAE seeks to de-escalate regional tensions but within a broader framework and with guarantees. They do not want a situation where crises re-emerge whenever Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps or the Quds Force decide to launch attacks in Iraq, the Gulf, or strategic straits.

The message carried by Gargash provides Tehran with an opportunity to begin breaking out of its diplomatic isolation and reassessing its regional role following losses in various conflicts. It could also temper Trump‘s hardline stance on Iran and reduce the maximum pressure exerted by his administration.

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Trump has expressed openness to reaching a deal with Tehran despite his continued “maximum pressure” policy, which he implemented during his first term to isolate Iran from the global economy and cut its oil exports to zero.

In 2018, the U.S. president withdrew from the 2015 nuclear agreement between Iran and world powers and reimposed sanctions on Tehran. In response, Iran began rolling back its nuclear commitments a year later.

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