UAE official warns Gulf faces prolonged uncertainty as US-Iran settlement appears difficult

Summary

Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed, warned on Monday, November 9, at a forum in Abu Dhabi that the Gulf must prepare for a 'long period of uncertainty' in which neither a decisive resolution nor a stable regional order can be taken for granted. He said a comprehensive political settlement between the United States and Iran to end their more than eight-month war appeared difficult. The remarks come as the region tries to judge whether US President Donald Trump will launch fresh strikes on Iran. Expectations of a new attack had been high until the Democrats won a sweeping midterm election victory on November 3, which Trump and Vice President JD Vance attributed to the unpopularity of the US-Israeli war on Iran. Trump told CNN on Monday that a new attack was 'highly unlikely' while negotiations are ongoing, though he said he had identified civilian infrastructure, including 38 bridges, that could be knocked down in literally one hour. The US has three aircraft carrier strike groups in the Middle East and is blockading Iranian shipping, while Iran is attacking vessels.

Timeline

1. Straits Times

   9 Nov 2026, 07:03 UTCSource ↗

   Reports that Gargash warned on Monday that the region could face a prolonged period of uncertainty and said a comprehensive political settlement between the US and Iran to end the more than eight-month war appeared difficult.

2. Middle East Eye

   9 Nov 2026, 17:46 UTCSource ↗

   Reports that Gargash told a forum in Abu Dhabi that the Gulf must prepare for a long period of uncertainty with no political settlement to the Iran war, and that Trump told CNN an attack on Iran was highly unlikely while negotiations continue.

3. Middle East Eye

   9 Nov 2026, 17:53 UTCSource ↗

   In its live blog, reports Gargash's remarks that neither a decisive resolution nor a stable regional order can be taken for granted, and notes that expectations of a new US attack on Iran had been high until the November 3 midterm results.