The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is seeking to ease tensions with Iran while strengthening its military and security cooperation with the United States and Israel, a balancing act aimed at protecting its economy and security interests amid heightened regional tensions.The Financial Times, citing people familiar with the matter, reported that UAE President Sheikh Muhammad bin Zayed Al Nahyan has tasked three of his brothers with managing contacts with Tehran in an effort to reduce tensions: Vice President Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and National Security Adviser Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan.Recent phone calls between Mansour bin Zayed and Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, and between Abdullah bin Zayed and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, are among the signs of the diplomatic effort, according to the Financial Times.The UAE began pursuing the policy after a fragile cease-fire between Iran and the United States and stepped up those efforts following a memorandum of understanding between Tehran and Washington on June 12.The renewed tensions in recent weeks have put the strategy to the test.In the latest escalation, Iran launched missile and drone attacks against several Gulf states, including Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, while the UAE has sought to avoid a direct military confrontation with Tehran.That marks a notable shift from the earlier phase of the conflict, when the UAE was among the hardest-hit targets of Iranian missile and drone attacks, with the UAE's Foreign Ministry reporting nearly 3,000 strikes.