DUBAI — A senior United Arab Emirates official urges a quick end to the Iran-Israel war, warning of a “difficult aftermath” if the conflict is prolonged.

Anwar Gargash, diplomatic advisor to the oil-rich UAE’s President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, says the war was “setting back” the wealthy Gulf region.

“The longer a war takes, the more dangerous it becomes,” he tells journalists in a briefing.

“I think any extended confrontation or war between Israel and Iran will only bring a very difficult aftermath.”

“De-escalation is extremely important,” Gargash says. “We still feel that there is a path back to negotiations on these issues.”

“This war flies in the face of the regional order the Gulf countries want to build, which is focused on regional prosperity,” Gargash says.

“We feel that this is setting us back, not only us in the UAE, but I would say the region.”