Why it matters:
As tensions in the Persian Gulf persist—with both Israeli and U.S. military activity in the backdrop—Iran is working with its neighbors to adopt a unified, regional approach to security, without relying on outside powers. Endogenous security is on the agenda.
The big picture:
The phone call between Ali Akbar Ahmadian and UAE National Security Advisor Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan comes amid regional efforts to de-escalate following Israeli attacks on Iran and U.S. military maneuvers.
Both sides echoed a common theme: regional security must be homegrown, not externally imposed.
What they’re saying:
Ali Akbar Ahmadian: “Security in the Persian Gulf—and the interconnected security of all its members—requires participation from the region’s countries. If even one state faces an external threat, the entire region will be destabilized.”
Ahmadian thanked the UAE for condemning Israel’s recent aggression against Iran and emphasized that Iran’s core foreign policy is based on expanding cooperation with neighbors.
Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan, for his part, recognized Iran’s important role in the region.
He affirmed that “security in the region must be ensured by its own countries,” noting that instability in one state harms all.
Bin Zayed stressed the UAE’s ongoing support for dialogue as the means to resolve regional challenges.
Go deeper:
The exchange reflects a growing, pragmatic trend among Persian Gulf states to prioritize direct bilateral and regional talks over reliance on Western security guarantees. For Iran, the message is clear: the Persian Gulf’s long-term stability hinges on unity among its neighbors—and pressure on destabilizing forces from outside the region.
Mojtaba Darabi
