The United Arab Emirates has told the US and Western allies it is prepared to participate in a multinational maritime task force to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and is lobbying dozens of countries to form what it calls a 'Hormuz Security Force' to defend the waterway from Iranian attacks and escort shipping, the Financial Times reported. The UAE is also working on a UN Security Council resolution with Bahrain to legitimize any such force. At the same time, Turkey is conducting intensive diplomatic efforts to prevent Gulf Arab countries from joining the US-Israeli war against Iran, according to Bloomberg. Ankara has urged restraint, with Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan visiting Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar and holding calls with other regional counterparts.