The Trump administration has urged the United Arab Emirates to seize Lavan Island, an Iranian-controlled territory in the Persian Gulf, as part of Washington's escalating pressure campaign against Tehran, according to reports from The Telegraph.
In what amounts to an extraordinary request for a regional ally, a senior US official reportedly told Emirati counterparts: "Go take 'em!" The official added that the goal was to have "UAE boots on the ground instead of US" forces, framing the proposal as a proxy action against Iran.
The proposal represents a dramatic escalation of American expectations for the UAE under the Trump administration's "maximum pressure" campaign against Iran. It comes as regional tensions have intensified following Iranian strikes against US positions and American military buildup in the Gulf.
Lavan Island sits in a strategic position controlling shipping lanes through which much of the world's oil passes. Iran maintains military facilities on the island and uses it as a forward position for patrol boats and surveillance operations. For the UAE to seize it would constitute an act of war against its larger neighbor across the Gulf.
In the Emirates, as across the Gulf, ambitious visions drive rapid transformation—turning desert into global business hubs. But this request asks the to take on military risks far beyond its traditional comfort zone, potentially jeopardizing the economic diversification and stability that have been central to its success.
