Officials in US President Donald Trump's administration are encouraging the United Arab Emirates to become more deeply involved in the confrontation with Iran, even taking control of one of the Iranian islands in the Persian Gulf, the British newspaper reported. The Telegraph.
According to the report, people close to Trump have suggested that the Emirates occupy the island of Lavan, which media outlets claim was secretly struck by Abu Dhabi in April.
“Go and get them!”, a senior security official in the US administration is quoted as saying, adding that "it would be Emirati troops on the ground and not American ones".
The report comes at a time when speculation has increased about a strategic rapprochement between the Emirates, the US, and Israel in confronting Iran.
In recent weeks, there have been reported visits to Abu Dhabi by top Israeli security officials, including the IDF Chief of Staff, the head of Mossad and the head of Shin Bet. There was also a reported visit by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which was later denied by the Emirates, according to Ynet.
According to The Telegraph, experts believe that Iranian attacks on Gulf countries are accelerating a new geopolitical alignment in the Middle East and could create a new axis against Tehran. The report notes that the Emirates have been among the countries hit hardest by Iran during the war, with over 2,800 missiles and drones launched at them since the start of the conflict.
Emirati officials told the British newspaper that Abu Dhabi has received more support from Israel and the US than from its Gulf Arab neighbors, who they said showed little solidarity.
Meanwhile, Bloomberg reported earlier that the Emirates had attempted to convince Saudi Arabia and Qatar to join a coordinated military response against Iran, but had been met with rejection.
According to Wall Street JournalThe Emirates has carried out military strikes inside Iranian territory, including a strike on a refinery on Lavan Island in early April, which caused a major fire and partially disrupted production at the facility. The Emirates has not officially confirmed these reports.
