According to Axios, on 20 Mordad an Iranian delegation secretly went to Abu Dhabi and sought de-escalation, improved relations, and food and medical aid; but the UAE rejected the request to cooperate not with U.S. sanctions.

A few days later, with the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) attacks intensifying on UAE oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, Abu Dhabi became enraged and decided to suspend commercial relations with Iran.