White House Special Envoy Steve Witkoff met with the United Arab Emirates' national security adviser last weekend to discuss next steps against Iran, according to two sources familiar with the meeting. The talks were not publicly announced by the White House, nor have they been reported until now. The talks occurred while the Trump administration tried to re-open the Strait of Hormuz while imposing an economic blockade on Iran. Witkov met Sheikh Tahon bin Zayed Al Nahyan on the Mediterranean island of Sardinia. The UAE has always been a key partner in the US-led operation to reopen and guide oil tankers through the strait, and is also a key factor in the success of America's economic pressure action against Iran. TBZ is one of the most influential leaders in the UAE. He is the brother of President Mohammed bin Zayed, a current adviser to the Ministry of National Security and Deputy Governor of Abu Dhabi, responsible for overseeing the UAE's huge investment and technology business. Witkov and TBZ have jointly discussed follow-up measures to the Iranian crisis and discussed other topics, sources said. The White House did not respond to requests for comment.

White House Special Envoy Steve Witkoff met with the United Arab Emirates' national security adviser last weekend to discuss next steps against Iran, according to two sources familiar with the meeting. The talks were not publicly announced by the White House, nor have they been reported until now. The talks occurred while the Trump administration tried to re-open the Strait of Hormuz while imposing an economic blockade on Iran. Witkov met Sheikh Tahon bin Zayed Al Nahyan on the Mediterranean island of Sardinia. The UAE has always been a key partner in the US-led operation to reopen and guide oil tankers through the strait, and is also a key factor in the success of America's economic pressure action against Iran. TBZ is one of the most influential leaders in the UAE. He is the brother of President Mohammed bin Zayed, currently an adviser to the Ministry of National Security and Deputy Governor of Abu Dhabi, responsible for overseeing the UAE's huge investment and technology business. Witkov and TBZ have jointly discussed follow-up measures to the Iranian crisis and discussed other topics, sources said. The White House did not respond to requests for comment.