UAE president, Bahraini crown prince discuss Gulf security with UK PM

United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Bahrain's Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa held separate meetings with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday to discuss regional developments, according to media reports.

During the meeting between the UAE president and Starmer in Abu Dhabi, the two sides condemned attacks on civilians and infrastructure in the UAE and the region, saying that such acts violate sovereignty and international law and undermine peace and security, the Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported.

Starmer reiterated Britain's condemnation of the attacks and expressed solidarity with the UAE, affirming support for its security and sovereignty.

Also on Thursday, the Bahraini crown prince met with Starmer in a separate meeting in western Bahrain's Sakhir Palace, during which the crown prince urged Iran to immediately cease hostile acts in the region and to completely reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the Bahrain News Agency reported.

The crown prince said that efforts to counter Iranian threats "must be comprehensive," covering its nuclear program, ballistic missiles and drones, support for proxy militias, and threats to maritime navigation, among others.

Meanwhile, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Thursday met with the European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas to discuss bilateral ties and regional developments, WAM reported.

On February 28, Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and several other Iranian cities, killing Iran's then Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, along with senior military commanders and civilians. Iran responded with waves of missile and drone strikes targeting Israel and US assets in the Middle East, and tightened control over the Strait of Hormuz.

A two-week ceasefire reached between Washington and Tehran took effect on Wednesday, with peace talks scheduled to begin later this week in Islamabad, Pakistan.