UAE’s Gargash Hits Back at Iran Regime Over ‘Dream’ of Controlling Hormuz

21/05/2026

UAE’s Gargash Hits Back at Iran Regime Over ‘Dream’ of Controlling Hormuz

DUBAI, May 21: A senior UAE official has sharply criticized Iran’s recent claims of control over waters in the Strait of Hormuz, dismissing them as unrealistic and provocative.

Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the UAE president, condemned the remarks following an announcement by an Iranian body overseeing the strategically vital waterway. In a post on X, Gargash described Iran’s assertions as a “pipe dream,” stressing that any attempt to dominate the strait or infringe on the UAE’s maritime sovereignty would not be accepted.

“The regime is trying to establish a new reality born from a clear military defeat,” Gargash said. “Attempts to control the Strait of Hormuz or encroach on the UAE’s maritime sovereignty are nothing but fragments of dreams.”

He added that Iran’s long-standing rhetoric has eroded trust across the Gulf region.

“We’ve grown accustomed to Iranian bullying over decades until it became part of the political landscape,” he wrote, noting a gap between Tehran’s “aggressive rhetoric” and its “hollow declarations of friendship.”

Gargash emphasized that rebuilding trust with neighboring Arab states would require more than political messaging.

“Whoever wants to coexist with its Arab surroundings must realize that trust is lost,” he said. “Restoring it is not achieved through slogans, but through responsible language, safeguarding sovereignty, and genuine commitment to the principles of good neighborliness.”

The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints, and any escalation around it carries significant geopolitical and economic implications.