U.A.E. Preparing to Help Open Strait of Hormuz By Force

Summary of U.A.E. Preparing to Help Open Strait of Hormuz By Force

by The Wall Street Journal

14m•April 1, 2026
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Overview of U.A.E. Preparing to Help Open Strait of Hormuz By Force (The Wall Street Journal — What's News, AM Edition)

This episode of The Wall Street Journal's What's News (April 1) covers escalating regional tensions in the Iran war and a possible shift by the United Arab Emirates toward active military participation to keep the Strait of Hormuz open. The show also runs through major U.S. domestic political developments (a Supreme Court showdown over birthright citizenship and a new voting-related executive order), corporate and market headlines (critical-minerals deal in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a large OpenAI funding round reported in the episode, and company earnings/turnaround updates), and immediate market and oil-price reactions. A longer interview with WSJ Middle East Bureau Chief Andrew Dowell explains the UAE’s calculation and options.

Key takeaways

  • The UAE is reportedly preparing to become the first Persian Gulf country to act as a combatant in the Iran war, including potentially helping to clear mines and otherwise support efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
  • The UAE is pushing for a UN Security Council resolution (sponsored by Bahrain) that would authorize use of force to reopen the strait and give participating countries diplomatic cover.
  • The U.S. has sent a third aircraft carrier (USS George H.W. Bush) to the region; three carriers could remain there for the foreseeable future.
  • Iran has issued warnings naming several U.S. companies with regional operations as legitimate targets for their role in supporting the war.
  • The Supreme Court is hearing arguments about President Trump’s executive order to end birthright citizenship; Trump plans to attend the hearing in person.
  • The administration issued an executive order directing federal agencies to compile voter-eligibility lists for states — a move expected to face legal challenges.
  • Virtus Minerals (U.S.) finalized a deal to acquire a major copper/cobalt producer in the DRC, which could be an important source of cobalt for U.S. critical-minerals supply chains if it can be turned around.
  • The episode reports a very large OpenAI funding round and valuation; the transcript gives unusually high figures (reported here as in the episode).
  • Nike sees a modest sales pullback this year; Allbirds sold for far less than its prior private-market valuation.

UAE, the Strait of Hormuz, and regional military posture

  • Why the change now:
    • Gulf states have been targeted by Iranian strikes for weeks; the UAE sees attacks on civilian infrastructure (hotels, iconic buildings, airports) as deliberate efforts to destabilize its economy and create domestic pressure.
    • The UAE fears a post-conflict Iranian role in administrating the Strait of Hormuz (charging tolls or controlling traffic), which would threaten the Emirates’ energy, shipping, and food supply lines.
    • The UAE has recalculated that remaining a non-combatant is no longer tenable given repeated targeting and the strategic importance of free passage through the strait.
  • What the UAE is prepared to do:
    • Lobby for a UN Security Council resolution authorizing force to open the strait, giving participating countries international legitimacy.
    • Contribute limited but meaningful military capabilities: mine-sweeping and maritime support, possible use of bases and logistical assistance to coalition forces.
    • Use diplomatic capital to help assemble an international coalition alongside the U.S.
  • Limitations:
    • The UAE has a relatively small military; the job of securing shipping lanes and clearing mines is complex and likely to require multinational cooperation and sustained effort.

U.S. military moves, markets, and oil

  • The USS George H.W. Bush departed Virginia to join U.S. forces in the Middle East, adding a third carrier to the theater; the carriers may remain for the foreseeable future.
  • President Trump planned a national address on the war and had publicly suggested a rapid end (two to three weeks), which briefly lifted global markets and pulled oil prices back.
  • Analysts caution that even a short war won’t necessarily return oil to pre-conflict levels quickly; Capital Economics’ outlook cited in the show still projected Brent around $80/barrel by year-end under a quick U.S. exit.
  • Airlines are already adjusting fees to offset higher fuel costs; executives warn fares could rise materially if fuel shortages persist.

Iran’s warning to companies in the region

  • Iran’s Revolutionary Guard publicly named multiple U.S. companies (Apple, Oracle, Palantir, Microsoft, Alphabet, JPMorgan Chase, Cisco, HP, Intel, IBM, Tesla, NVIDIA, Boeing) and told regional employees to leave by a specified deadline, accusing those firms of contributing to Iranian casualties.
  • The warning underscores the risk to civilian corporate operations and could affect staffing, insurance, and corporate decisions in the region.

U.S. politics and the courts

  • Supreme Court hearing: Justices are set to hear arguments on President Trump’s executive order attempting to end birthright citizenship. Lower courts blocked the order as conflicting with the 14th Amendment.
    • Trump is attending the hearing — an uncommon step for a sitting president.
    • Outcomes: If the Court upholds the 14th Amendment’s conventional interpretation, that would likely put the issue to rest. Alternatively, the Court could rule on statutory grounds and leave constitutional questions less settled, keeping the issue alive politically.
  • Voting-related executive order: Trump signed an order directing federal agencies to create lists of people they deem eligible to vote in federal elections using citizenship and social-security data; states (Arizona, Oregon) already announced intentions to challenge it legally.

Critical minerals, tech funding, and corporate updates

  • DRC mining deal:
    • Virtus Minerals (U.S.) finalized acquisition of Shemoff (a large copper/cobalt producer not already under Chinese control).
    • The mine needs substantial investment (hundreds of millions) to rebuild processing capacity, mechanize operations, and mitigate informal-miner damage; success could add meaningful cobalt supply (the episode cites up to ~5% of world cobalt in a best-case scenario).
    • Operating in the DRC requires navigating security, corruption, and infrastructure challenges.
  • OpenAI funding:
    • The episode reports a historic funding round that it frames as the largest in Silicon Valley history, with major participation from Amazon, NVIDIA, and SoftBank and a reported valuation cited in the transcript. (The dollar figures in the episode are unusually large; verify with current reporting for precise numbers.)
  • Corporate snapshots:
    • Nike expects a 2–4% sales decline this year and is experiencing a slower-than-desired recovery in China and certain business lines; CEO said progress is mixed but the strategic direction stands.
    • Allbirds sold for roughly $39 million after earlier private-market valuations near $4 billion — a cautionary example about the limits of premium pricing for sustainability-focused products.

Notable quotes

  • Andrew Dowell: “They are, in fact, a combatant… Iran isn’t just shooting at U.S. interests in the UAE, but took aim at things like luxury hotels, iconic buildings, the airport…a deliberate attempt to sow panic.”
  • On the risk to global energy markets: traders and analysts signaling that a rapid political resolution may not erase longer-run upward pressure on oil prices.

What to watch next

  • President Trump’s national address on the war (timing noted in show) and the U.S. public posture toward de-escalation or escalation.
  • Supreme Court decision(s) on birthright citizenship and any narrower statutory rulings that could leave constitutional questions open.
  • UN Security Council developments: any resolution from Bahrain/the UAE authorizing force to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
  • Arrival and operations of U.S. carrier group(s) in the region and any multinational naval actions to secure shipping lanes.
  • Corporate and security fallout from Iran’s public warnings against U.S. companies in the Middle East (staff evacuations, insurance costs, operational disruptions).
  • Progress and investment updates from Virtus Minerals on Shemoff’s turnaround in the DRC — and any wider implications for U.S. critical-minerals supply chains.

Sources referenced in the episode: interview with WSJ Middle East Bureau Chief Andrew Dowell, WSJ Supreme Court reporter James Rammoser, WSJ business reporters covering Africa and markets.