August 20, 2026 | 09:06 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The United States has been urging the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for weeks to increase economic pressure on Iran, The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday, citing sources.
As ANTARA cited, Director of the Strategic Communications Department of the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Afra Al Hameli, said on Tuesday, August 18, that the UAE had stopped trade and financial activities with Iran.
As The Wall Street Journal reported, the UAE is concerned that Washington's strategy of increasing economic pressure on Iran could negatively impact Gulf economies that rely on tourism and trade rather than oil.
However, some UAE officials reportedly want to maintain communication lines with Tehran so they can use diplomatic tools if the U.S. operation to pressure Iran's economy is unsuccessful.
Previously, U.S. President Donald Trump said Tehran had not seized the opportunity to reach a deal with Washington, leading the U.S. to launch a large-scale economic operation against the Islamic Republic.
Then on Wednesday, Trump announced what he called “the most crushing economic operation ever undertaken against any country,” while escalating his campaign to isolate Iran, and warning other countries and companies that assist Tehran that they would face severe economic consequences.
Trump said the U.S. would seek to cut off financial and trade channels that provide economic support to Iran. “Today, I am also announcing that ANY country that allows its financial institutions, businesses, airports, or government entities to provide any type of lifeline to Iran will itself face TREMENDOUS Economic Consequences,” he added.
Read: Trump Threatens 'Crushing Economic War' Against Iran
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