UAE’s Gargash: Rebuilding trust with Iran could take generations after attacks 

Abu Dhabi: Dr Anwar bin Mohammed Gargash, Diplomatic Adviser to the President of the UAE, said rebuilding trust between Iran and countries in the region would take “a very long time”, stressing that there is a clear distinction between restoring relations and restoring trust after sustained attacks.

Speaking via video link at a public policy conference hosted by the French Institute of International Relations, Gargash said it was unrealistic to speak of trust after the launch of around 2,800 missiles and drones. “Rebuilding relations is one thing; rebuilding trust is something entirely different,” he said, adding that the wounds left by the attacks could take “generations” to heal.

He warned that the fallout would shape Iran’s standing in the region over the long term, with Gulf states now viewing Tehran as a persistent strategic threat. The attacks, he said, appeared deliberate and underscored Iran’s disregard for Arab relations.

According to Gargash, roughly 90 per cent of the strikes targeted civilian areas and energy infrastructure, contradicting Iranian claims that military sites were the primary focus. The scale and nature of the attacks, he suggested, had hardened regional perceptions in ways that would be difficult to reverse.

Gargash said Iran is facing a political impasse, pointing to a fragmented and poorly coordinated government. He warned against interpreting the current pause in negotiations as a victory, saying such a reading could further complicate efforts to stabilise the situation.

Over the course of the 7-week war, the UAE Ministry of Defence said its air defence systems had intercepted 537 ballistic missiles, 26 cruise missiles and 2,256 drones. The ministry reported 224 injuries of multiple nationalities and confirmed two Emirati fatalities, along with a Moroccan civilian contractor. It added that 10 civilians from various nationalities were killed in the attacks.