UAE official says report the country seeking military action to reopen Hormuz is ‘misleading’

A United Arab Emirates official describes as “misleading” a Wall Street Journal report today that the Gulf nation is pushing for military action to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and is itself willing to take part.

“Recent reporting suggesting a shift in the UAE’s posture is misleading,” the official says in a statement. “The UAE maintains a defensive posture focused on protecting its sovereignty, its people, and its infrastructure, and reserves its right to self-defense in response to ongoing unlawful and unprovoked attacks.”

The official adds that the UAE “remains ready to support collective international efforts aimed at safeguarding maritime security and ensuring the uninterrupted flow of commerce. Any such engagement would have to be conducted in full coordination with international partners and in strict adherence to international law.”