Iran announces the formation of a naval coalition in the Gulf region

Iranian media on June 3 quoted Shahram Irani, Commander of the Iranian Navy, saying that the country will form a naval alliance with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, Qatar, Iraq, Pakistan and India, according to Reuters.

An Iranian warship launches a missile during a military exercise in the Gulf of Oman in 2021.

"Countries in the region have now realized that only by working together can we bring security to the region," Irani said, adding that the alliance would be formed soon, without explaining what the framework would be.

Iran has recently sought to improve relations with many Gulf Arab states. In March, Iran and Saudi Arabia ended seven years of hostility under a deal brokered by China. Both sides stressed the need for stability and economic cooperation in the region.

The UAE also restored formal ties with Iran last year, despite signing a normalization deal with Israel, Iran's main rival, two years earlier. Iran's renewed engagement with Saudi Arabia is said to have undermined Israel's efforts to isolate Iran diplomatically .

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It is not yet clear how the parties involved will react to the Iranian commander's announcement about the formation of a naval coalition.

The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently announced that the country has withdrawn from the Joint Maritime Forces, a 34-nation alliance led by the US and headquartered at the US base in Bahrain. This alliance was established to fight terrorism and piracy in the Red Sea and the Gulf. The UAE explained that it made the decision after reassessing its security needs.

The decision marks a pivotal turning point for the regional geopolitical landscape, changing the dynamics of international cooperation related to maritime security, according to Al-Jazeera.

Some experts say the UAE has become frustrated with the US's failure to fulfill its role as a regional security sponsor, forcing the UAE and other parties to expand and diversify security cooperation relationships to serve national interests.

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