The United Arab Emirates is preparing to join a U.S.-led military effort aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for global trade and a critical artery for its own economy, according to Arab officials cited by The Wall Street Journal.

The move would mark a significant shift, potentially making the UAE the first Gulf state to take direct military action against Iran, after sustaining heavy attacks from Iranian missiles and drones.

Officials said the UAE is working to secure a United Nations Security Council resolution that would authorize such an operation. Emirati diplomats have also urged the United States, along with European and Asian allies, to form a coalition capable of reopening the strait by force. One official warned that Iran’s leadership is fighting for survival and is willing to damage the global economy by maintaining its grip over the strategic passage.

According to the report, the UAE has been assessing how it could contribute operationally, including efforts to help clear naval mines from the waterway.

Officials in the Emirates also suggested that the United States should seize control of key islands along the route, including Abu Musa, which has been held by Iran for decades but is claimed by the UAE.

In a statement, the UAE’s Foreign Ministry pointed to recent international actions condemning Iran’s behavior, including a United Nations resolution denouncing attacks on Emirati cities and another by the International Maritime Organization criticizing the closure of the strait. The ministry said there is a “broad global consensus that freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz must be preserved.”

Officials from another Gulf country described the UAE’s current posture as a major departure from its previous strategy. Dubai, the UAE’s commercial hub, has historically maintained economic ties with Iran, and Emirati diplomats had worked to mediate between Washington and Tehran prior to the outbreak of war, including hosting Iranian security official Ali Larijani, who was later killed in an airstrike.

Iran has launched nearly 2,500 missiles and drones at the UAE — more than at any other country, including Israel. Despite this, the UAE, like other Gulf states, had until now sought to avoid direct military confrontation with Iran.