The country was attacked by more than 2,800 missiles and drones in the first 40 days of the US and Israel’s war with Iran, the United Arab Emirates’ minister of state said on Sunday, adding that more than 90% of the targets were civilian infrastructure.
Reem Al Hashimi, the UAE’s Minister of State for International Cooperation, told ABC’s “This Week” program on Sunday morning that Iran wants to destroy the UAE’s “model of prosperity and tolerance.”
He told host Jonathan Karl, “We used our oil wealth to create an economic superpower. They used their wealth to fund nuclear programs, missiles, drones, proxies, etc.” “So while we have tried and become an international, global, responsible player, they are a pariah state. And they wanted to break that model, but they underestimated our resolve.”
The UAE has faced attacks from Iran since the US and Israel launched joint attacks on Iran in late February. While the Gulf state – like many of its neighbors – was initially opposed to war, it has since changed its tune as it considers how to avoid the start of a larger regional war.
Asked whether he agreed with President Donald Trump’s assessment that regime change has occurred in Iran, al-Hashimi expressed skepticism that Iran’s leadership has meaningfully changed.
“I know the personalities have changed. You have different characters that currently exist,” he said, “but how has this changed the character of the Revolutionary Guard? That remains to be seen – though, doesn’t look very promising right now.”
Trump said Sunday morning that the United States will resume peace talks with Iranian officials in Pakistan on Monday after initial rounds of talks failed to achieve meaningful progress. Trump initially told Karl that Vice President J.D. Vance would not attend the second round of talks, but the White House later backtracked.
The president had previously threatened to destroy Iranian civilian infrastructure and wipe out “an entire civilization” if Iran did not agree to open the Strait of Hormuz, a move that drew sharp criticism from Democrats and human rights experts. Speaking to Carl on Sunday morning, US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz stressed that “all options are on the table.”
Asked if he was concerned about Trump’s threats, Al Hashimi said the UAE believes “maximum pressure” is necessary to move forward, while cautioning against civilian attacks.
“Ultimately, we don’t want to hurt the Iranian people. That’s very important to mention. But at the same time, it is the Revolutionary Guard that has stepped up the military stance and posture not just against the US and Israel, but against the very neighborhood in which they operate through the Gulf states.”
