UAE Prepares to Support Military Action to Open Strait of Hormuz, Reports Say

The United Arab Emirates is reportedly preparing to join a coalition supporting potential US-led military operations to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, according to reports citing regional security sources, a development that would mark a dramatic escalation in Gulf tensions and could place the UAE in direct confrontation with Iran for the first time.

The reports, first circulated by Iran International and subsequently picked up by regional media outlets, suggest Abu Dhabi has been in consultations with Washington and other allied capitals about the scope and nature of its potential contribution. If confirmed, the UAE would become the first Gulf Arab state to commit openly to military action against Iranian positions or forces in the critical waterway.

The Strait of Hormuz, the narrow passage between the Omani coast and Iranian territory, carries an estimated 20 percent of the world's oil supply and roughly a third of all globally traded liquefied natural gas. Any sustained closure or significant disruption to navigation in the strait would send shockwaves through global energy markets and pose an existential economic challenge to Gulf states whose export revenues depend entirely on seaborne access.

The reports have not been independently verified by Qatar Standard, and neither UAE nor US officials have issued formal comment. Iran has not publicly responded to the latest reports as of publication time.

The development comes against a backdrop of severely deteriorating US-Iran relations following Washington's reimposition of maximum-pressure sanctions and escalating naval incidents in Gulf waters in recent weeks. American officials have repeatedly warned Tehran against any attempt to close or restrict passage through the strait, which the United States considers an international waterway.

For Qatar, which shares the world's largest natural gas field with Iran and has historically maintained diplomatic channels with Tehran even through periods of regional turbulence, the prospect of a Gulf state entering open military conflict with its northern neighbor presents acute strategic sensitivities. Doha has consistently advocated for dialogue and de-escalation as the preferred framework for managing Gulf-Iran tensions.

Analysts warn that any military engagement in or near the strait risks miscalculation and uncontrolled escalation, with consequences that would extend far beyond the immediate parties. The Gulf Cooperation Council has not issued a collective position on the reports, and it remains unclear whether other member states, including Saudi Arabia, have been approached about participation in a potential coalition.