Iran faces mounting pressure as the UAE cuts economic ties over Hormuz tensions while Baghdad confronts Tehran-backed militias in a high-stakes regional power struggle. By Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj The confrontation surrounding Iran is entering a more dangerous phase in which economic pressure, maritime warfare and Iraq’s unresolved militia problem are becoming increasingly interconnected. The United Arab Emirates’ decision to suspend trade, commercial exchanges and financial transactions with Iran until further notice represents a major escalation against one of Tehran’s most important economic gateways. At almost the same time, Baghdad is struggling to enforce a September 30 deadline for militia disarmament while Tehran sends senior officials to Iraq to prevent the confrontation between the Iraqi state and Iran-backed armed groups from becoming violent. These developments are not separate crises. They are increasingly parts of the same strategic struggle over Iran’s ability to project power...

  Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj The UAE escalates economic pressure on Iran as tensions over the Strait of Hormuz deepen, while Baghdad faces growing US-Iran pressure over militia disarmament. The United Arab Emirates’ decision to suspend trade and financial transactions with Iran marks a potentially decisive escalation in the economic dimension of the war surrounding the Strait of Hormuz. What had once been one of Iran’s most important commercial lifelines is now becoming another front in the confrontation between Tehran and the Gulf states. On August 18, the UAE announced that it would halt trade and financial activity with Iran after accusing Tehran of launching missiles from Iranian territory toward the Emirates. Iran’s actions and the UAE’s response demonstrate that the struggle over Hormuz is no longer simply a dispute over maritime navigation: it is becoming a broader contest over whether Iran can impose strategic costs on the Gulf while preserving the economic networks that have helpe...

From strikes on Iran’s oil hubs to attacks across the Gulf, the first 24 hours reveal a ceasefire in name only.   GULF REGION, April 8 ( Kurdish Policy Analysis ) — A ceasefire meant to calm a rapidly escalating regional conflict appeared to fray within hours of taking effect on Wednesday, as missile strikes, drone attacks and conflicting political statements cast doubt on whether the truce was ever fully in force. In one of the most serious reported incidents, Iranian energy infrastructure on Siri and Lavan islands in the Persian Gulf was struck after the ceasefire began, according to regional monitoring reports and local media. The attacks triggered fires at refinery sites, though officials in Tehran did not immediately confirm the extent of the damage or attribute responsibility. At roughly the same time, Iran launched a wave of retaliatory strikes toward the United Arab Emirates, firing ballistic missiles and armed drones at multiple targets, according to Gulf security sour...

     UAE cracks down on Iran’s financial lifeline in Dubai — visas canceled, assets frozen, networks dismantled. A decades-old sanctions loophole is collapsing in real time. Sulaimanyah, March 29 Kurdish Policy Analysis — The United Arab Emirates has begun canceling residency visas for Iranian nationals stranded outside the country, including holders of long-term “golden visas,” in a sweeping move that is disrupting decades-old financial and commercial ties with Iran , according to regional media and local sources. The measures, which expanded on March 27, have affected Iranians with property holdings and active businesses in Dubai , a hub long viewed as a critical conduit for Tehran’s access to global markets despite Western sanctions. The clampdown has also extended beyond visas. Iranian schools in Dubai have reportedly closed, the Iranian hospital has ceased operations, and consular services have been reduced to minimal staffing levels. Some stranded nationals are ...