The Middle Eastʼs leading independent news source since 2012
Search
UAE’s MBZ reportedly cancels Japan visit amid US-Iran standoff: What to know
Subscribe for as low as
$2/week
to access this story and all reporting.
By entering your email, you agree to receive AL-MONITOR's daily newsletter and occasional marketing messages.
Why AL-MONITOR?
AL-MONITOR is an award-winning media outlet covering the Middle East, valued for its independence, diversity and analysis. It is read widely by US, international and Middle East decision makers at the highest levels, as well as by media, thought and business leaders and academia.
Read by
Live news & notifications
Follow over 100 expert journalists based across the region and get notified in real time of breaking stories and exclusives. *Expanded coverage on Energy & Defense sectors.
Premier analysis of the Middle East
Access the sharpest and most diverse regional minds giving you all the angles on regional trends.
Live events & video
Priority access to roundtables, summits and other events alongside AL-MONITOR's global community of regional influencers.
Specialized Newsletters
Get timely reporting on key countries and sectors with up to 10 daily and weekly newsletters straight to your inbox.
Big, exclusive interviews
Follow conversations with the region's biggest names in politics and business.
AL-MONITOR archives since 2012
Access a repository of over a decade's worth of regional coverage, insights and trends.
Subscribe for unlimited access
By becoming an AL-MONITOR subscriber, you drive our team’s rigorous and independent journalism spanning the Middle East.
UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan arrives for a welcoming ceremony prior to talks with the Russian president at the Kremlin in Moscow, on Jan. 29, 2026. — MAXIM SHIPENKOV / AFP via Getty Images
The possibility of military confrontation between the US and Iran continues to reverberate globally, with the United Arab Emirates' president reportedly canceling a planned visit to Japan this week as the regional security situation remain precarious.
What happened: Japan’s public broadcaster NHK reported that UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan called off the three-day state visit that was set to begin Feb. 8.
According to the Japanese outlet, the UAE cited domestic circumstances for the decision, but Japanese officials believe the situation between Iran and the US also played a role, per the report.
Al-Monitor has reached out to the Emirati Foreign Ministry for confirmation.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned on Sunday that any US attack on his country would spark a “regional war” in the Middle East, as Washington has bolstered its military presence in the region.
The UAE is concerned about potential blowback from any Iran‑US conflict. Iran has repeatedly threatened that US assets in the region would be targets should the US attack Iran. The UAE hosts an estimated 3,500 US troops at the Al Dhafra Air Base.
Last Monday, the UAE Foreign Ministry said the Gulf state would not allow its airspace to be used in “hostile military actions” against Iran.
On Friday, Emirati Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan held a phone call with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in which the two discussed "regional and international developments," according to the Emirati Foreign Ministry.
While tensions remain high between Washington and Tehran, signs of diplomatic engagement are also emerging.
Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani wrote on X on Saturday that “structural arrangements for negotiations are progressing.”
برخلاف فضاسازیِ جنگ رسانهای تصنعی، شکلگیری ساختاری برای #مذاکرات در حال پیشرفت است.
— Ali Larijani | علی لاریجانی (@alilarijani_ir) January 31, 2026
Iranian media outlets reported on Monday that President Masoud Pezeshkian has directed a restart of nuclear negotiations with Washington, with discussions likely to involve Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US special envoy Steve Witkoff. Neither Pezeshkian nor the US has publicly confirmed plans for talks.
Axios reported Monday that Witkoff and Araghchi are expected to meet Friday in Istanbul and that before these talks, Witkoff is scheduled to be in Abu Dhabi for Ukraine-Russia talks on Wednesday and Thursday.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said at a press conference Monday that Iran is currently “reviewing” efforts to resume indirect negotiations with the US toward a nuclear deal.
You're reading a free AL-MONITOR Original
Want more like this?
AL-MONITOR All-Access gives you unlimited access to all our journalism, the full Daily Briefing, exclusive interviews, premium newsletters, and live events — for less than $2/week.
