The United Arab Emirates is reportedly prepared to take direct military action in the Strait of Hormuz to protect shipping and push back against Iranian attacks, and that willingness changes the options available to the United States and its partners in responding to Tehran’s threats.
Gulf partners have grown impatient with repeated Iranian aggression, and that impatience is now turning into a readiness to act. The UAE has been struck multiple times and feels the pressure of proximity that European allies don’t face. Their statements of support for U.S. military measures are backed by a clear signal: they are considering concrete military roles, not just diplomatic protests.
Reports say the UAE is pushing for a forceful reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and is exploring what contributions it could offer in a coalition. That kind of posture strengthens deterrence by showing Iran that attacks on commercial shipping will meet coordinated resistance. When local states shoulder more of the burden, American strategy gains flexibility and legitimacy.
The United Arab Emirates is pushing for the US to forcefully reopen the Strait of Hormuz and is willing to assist in such a military operation, The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday night.
The report said the Gulf state is also seeking a UN Security Council Resolution that would green-light such an operation, as it faces continued Iranian attacks.
An Emirati official told the Journal that the country’s diplomats have urged the US, along with unspecified European and Asian military powers, to establish a coalition to forcefully open Hormuz, and the UAE is looking into what military contributions it can make to help break Iran’s grip on the strait.
The UAE foreign ministry framed the issue as one of global norms, noting a broad consensus that freedom of navigation in the Strait must be protected. That diplomatic language masks a harsher reality on the ground: Gulf states want their territory and shipping protected, and they want Tehran’s ability to coerce reduced. They are tired of being targets and of watching Iranian forces threaten regional stability.
The prospect of Emirati participation gives Washington new leverage and options, and it raises the political cost for Iran. If Gulf states will join a coalition to keep the Strait open, Iran faces a combined regional and international response that limits its ability to project power. That kind of coalition pressure is exactly what’s needed to deter further attacks and to impose consequences without necessarily escalating into wider conflict.
From a military standpoint, recent U.S. operations have degraded Iranian capabilities, and adding regional partners to the mission would compound that effect. Reports indicate that U.S. objectives in current strikes have been largely met, and partner contributions could make enforcement more sustainable. A shared security posture also reduces the burden on American forces while making any attempt to blockade or harass shipping riskier for Tehran.
Practical steps that fit this approach include establishing persistent escort operations for commercial vessels and exploring alternatives that reduce dependence on the Strait for global commerce. Creating redundancy in logistics and transport routes will make Iran’s threats less consequential. Where possible, international legal measures and Security Council backing would bolster the legitimacy of any enforcement action.
Politically, pushing for multilateral enforcement shows the world that free passage is not negotiable and that regional states can, and will, defend it. It also isolates Tehran by forcing countries to choose between the rule of law and enabling coercion. The UAE’s reported willingness to participate sends a clear message: the status quo of unchecked Iranian belligerence ends now, and regional actors are stepping up to protect their own interests.
Editor’s Note: For decades, former presidents have been all talk and no action. Now, Donald Trump is eliminating the threat from Iran once and for all.
Add comment