UAE pushed Trump to escalate against Iran — report

By Lazar Berman

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2 August 2026, 5:42 pm

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Lazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (right) welcomes his US counterpart Donald Trump upon arrival at the presidential terminal in Abu Dhabi on May 15, 2025. (Giuseppe Cacae/AFP)

While Saudi Arabia pushed US President Donald Trump not to carry out a major attack on Iran over the weekend, the United Arab Emirates lobbied him to take “more decisive action,” the Wall Street Journal reports, citing senior Gulf officials familiar with the discussion.

They argue that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps won’t budge on its demands without an escalation by the US, including Washington taking control of the Strait of Hormuz and possibly a ground incursion.

The UAE has carried out its own strikes against Iran, and hosted Israeli air defense troops on its soil to help counter Iranian attacks.