By Olivia Le Poidevin
GENEVA, March 9 (Reuters) – The United Arab Emirates ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva called on Monday for a de-escalation of the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran and a return to negotiations.
Oil prices have surged as some major producers cut supplies and stock markets have gone into a nosedive since the war began on February 28, and Iran has fired on Gulf states that host U.S. military bases, causing travel and business disruptions.
“De-escalation, de-escalation, de-escalation. This is a standing position we have, and we will continue to offer that,” Ambassador Jamal Jama al Musharakh told reporters in Geneva.
The UAE is among the six Gulf states that have been subjected to Iranian drone and missile strikes since the war began.
There have been more than 1,400 attacks on the UAE in recent days that killed four civilians and injured 114 others, the ambassador said.
Attacks by Iran on civilian infrastructure in the region, including desalination and energy facilities, were of concern and any further such strikes would be unacceptable, the envoy said.
“We are also fully prepared to protect these vital locations,” he added.
Attacks on the UAE and regional neighbours contravened the principles of “good neighbourliness” and undermined the path to finding peaceful solutions, al Musharakh stated.
But UAE bases would not be used for attacks against Iran, he said, despite his country being targeted in an “unwarranted manner”.
U.S. officials mainly say Washington’s aim is to destroy Iran’s missile capabilities and nuclear programme.
President Donald Trump said on Saturday he was not interested in negotiations with Tehran and suggested the war would end only when Iran no longer had a functioning military or leadership in power.
(Reporting by Olivia Le Poidevin, Editing by Timothy Heritage)
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