Gargash: Restoring relations is one thing, but rebuilding trust is an entirely different challenge.
Abu Dhabi: Anwar 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 difference 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 consequences would shape Iran’s standing in the region for years to come, with Gulf states now viewing Tehran as a lasting strategic threat. Gargash said the attacks appeared deliberate and reflected Iran’s disregard for its relations with Arab neighbours. “To the region — to the United Arab Emirates and other countries — Iran will be seen as a strategic threat,” he said.
According to Anwar Gargash, around 90 per cent of the strikes targeted civilian areas and energy infrastructure, contradicting Iranian claims that military sites were the main focus. He said the scale and nature of the attacks had hardened regional perceptions in ways that would be difficult to reverse.
Gargash added that Iran is facing a political impasse, pointing to a fragmented and poorly coordinated government. He warned against viewing the current pause in negotiations as a victory, saying such an interpretation could further complicate efforts to stabilise the situation.
Over the seven-week war, the Ministry of Defence said its air defence systems intercepted 537 ballistic missiles, 26 cruise missiles, and 2,256 drones. The ministry reported 224 injuries involving multiple nationalities and confirmed two Emirati fatalities, along with one Moroccan civilian contractor. It also said that 10 civilians from various nationalities were killed in the attacks.
