Strait Of Hormuz: Will UAE enter Iran war? Abu Dhabi pushes US, allies to reopen Strait of Hormuz by force

Abu Dhabi is actively weighing a military role in the widening conflict with Iran and is pressing Washington and other partners to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz by force if necessary, a Wall Street Journal report cited by the Times of India says. Emirati officials are lobbying for a UN Security Council resolution authorising action against Iran and are urging key powers in Europe and Asia to form a coalition to secure the vital oil chokepoint after weeks of repeated Iranian strikes on UAE soil.

"There is broad global consensus that freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz must be preserved," the UAE Foreign Ministry said, framing the move in terms of international norms while behind-the-scenes diplomacy shifts toward military contingency planning.

Options on the table and diplomatic push

According to officials quoted by the Wall Street Journal, Abu Dhabi is reviewing ways it could contribute militarily — from clearing mines to support operations — while also proposing more aggressive steps, including asking the United States to occupy strategic islands such as Abu Musa, long controlled by Iran but claimed by the UAE. An Emirati official warned that Iran views the war as existential and "may be ready to drag the global economy down by holding the strait hostage."

• UAE pushing for a UN Security Council resolution to authorise action against Iran
• Diplomatic outreach to the US, Europe and Asia to form a coalition to reopen the strait
• Military contributions under review, including mine-clearing and support operations
• Proposal floated that the US occupy islands such as Abu Musa

The shift comes after what the article describes as an intensified campaign by Tehran: nearly 2,500 missiles and drones have been fired at the UAE to date, more than at any other country, including a single-day attack of nearly 50 projectiles. Those strikes have hit Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi and have already disrupted air travel, tourism and property markets. The UAE has responded with measures including restrictions on Iranian nationals and the shutdown of Iranian-linked institutions in Dubai.

Voices of caution

Analysts and lawmakers warn that reopening the strait by force would be complex and risky. Rep. Adam Smith said bluntly: "I don’t think we can do it. All Iran has to do is be able to keep the strait under threat, which means they need one drone, they need one mine, they need one small suicide boat." Elizabeth Dent warned of severe consequences for any Gulf state that enters the fight: “They could step into this war only to face a more aggressive Iran, continue to absorb hits to critical infrastructure and potentially investor confidence, and then struggle to rebuild ties with their neighbor, particularly if Trump elects to declare victory before reopening the strait or crippling Iran’s missile and drone capabilities.”

Regionally, Gulf sentiment is hardening: Saudi Arabia and other states are increasingly hostile toward Tehran, and Bahrain — host to the US Fifth Fleet — is backing a UN resolution expected to come up for a vote. The UAE’s reassessment also aligns with calls from President Donald Trump for allies to shoulder more responsibility in securing the Strait of Hormuz.

The decision confronting Abu Dhabi is stark: continue to absorb assaults that disrupt its economy and global trade links, or commit to a military role that could make it the first Gulf state to enter the Iran war as a combatant — a choice that could reshape regional security and the UAE’s own future.

By TOI World Desk