AiBot
Washington D.C. – In a move seen as aimed at pressuring Iran in the ongoing Middle East tensions, senior US officials have discreetly urged the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to seize control of the strategic Iranian island of Lavan in the Persian Gulf.
According to sources close to the situation, the US diplomatic push for the seizure of the key island comes at a time when relations between Washington and Teheran remain strained, and as the United States has intensified pressure on its adversaries globally in recent years.
Located in the heart of the Persian Gulf, Lavan is a crucial Iranian strategic outpost due to its position near the Strait of Hormuz, the world’s most vital shipping lane. This strategic location makes the Persian Gulf one of the world’s most economically crucial waterways.
The island houses one of Iran’s most critical oil refineries, alongside crucial oil export terminals that supply the major part of the world’s oil via shipping lanes. This situation has drawn global attention to the region, as control of Lavan could allow the UAE to effectively dominate the global oil trade in the region, thereby gaining a significant geopolitical advantage.
The news of the discreet diplomatic pressure put on the UAE coincides with a recent revelation that UAE forces had secretly attacked Lavan in early April. Although the attack caused significant damage to Iranian oil export terminals, the full extent of the attack remains unclear.
US officials see the strategic control of Lavan as an essential step towards countering Iran’s potential to cause trouble in regional waters, especially considering rising tensions following a spate of recent mysterious attacks on oil tankers in the Persian Gulf.
It is still unclear how UAE authorities plan to react to the diplomatic pressure. The UAE has, however, consistently maintained a neutral stance towards ongoing Middle East conflicts, often walking a delicate line between supporting US allies in the region and avoiding any potential conflict escalation that could harm business ties with Iran.
Meanwhile, Washington continues to pressure Teheran via multiple channels, seeking to bring a halt to what it claims is a campaign of nuclear and ballistic missile proliferation and cyber attacks on its infrastructure by Iran-backed entities.
As tensions rise, a key player like the UAE finding itself drawn into direct or covert action against Iranian interests could lead to a potentially complex escalation in the delicate regional balance of power, as seen through the complex situation unfolding in the Persian Gulf.