The United Arab Emirates pressed leaders of fellow Gulf nations, such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar, to unite in a military counteraction to Iran's recent volleys of missiles, rockets, and drones during the ongoing conflict. UAE officials expressed deep frustration over the refusal, according to individuals close to the discussions who spoke with Bloomberg on Friday.

UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, known as MBZ, engaged in multiple phone conversations with counterparts, including Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, soon after Israel and the United States initiated strikes on Iran on February 28, the sources indicated.

MBZ firmly believed a unified retaliatory operation was essential to discourage further Iranian aggression, the insiders noted.

As he collaborated with the Trump administration and Israeli officials, MBZ encountered pushback from neighbors who insisted the fight did not involve them. This episode further strained the ties between the UAE and Saudi Arabia, one source remarked.

The Trump team knew of the UAE's initiative and even encouraged Saudi Arabia and Qatar to participate, another informed party shared.

In appeals to Gulf Cooperation Council members, MBZ highlighted the group's 1981 establishment as a bulwark against threats stemming from Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Such revelations shed light on the UAE's apparent irritation with its partners, evident in its late-April exit from OPEC and OPEC+, alongside deepening connections with Israel, as the report suggests.

Lacking backing from other Gulf countries, the UAE nonetheless conducted targeted operations against Iran in March and April, sources confirmed.

Iran Unleashed Heaviest Assaults on UAE in Recent War

The Emirates endured the fiercest bombardment of any nation in the conflict. Iran dispatched nearly 3,000 drones and numerous missiles toward UAE territory prior to the truce.

Just last week, Tehran struck Fujairah, the UAE's vital oil port adjacent to the Strait of Hormuz.

Independent of MBZ's vision, Saudi Arabia executed its own strikes on Iran in March without UAE involvement.

Riyadh later shifted gears, aiding Pakistan's mediation efforts between Washington and Tehran, per the sources.

Officials from the UAE and Saudi governments offered no response to Bloomberg's inquiries.

Qatar weighed retaliatory action after Iran damaged Ras Laffan, the globe's biggest liquefied natural gas facility, in March, a Gulf diplomat informed the publication.

Ultimately, Doha refrained, choosing instead to promote conflict resolution.

Bahrain and Kuwait, typically in lockstep with Saudi Arabia on security and diplomacy, prioritized steering clear of heightened tensions.

Oman, the final GCC member with historically warmer relations to Iran, was seen as unlikely to engage from the outset, according to those familiar with events.

Spokespeople for Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman also ignored Bloomberg's comment requests.