Deterrence and diplomacy work hand in hand and do not contradict one another, even as Iranian strikes in the region and indirect talks to end the war continue, Dr Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to President Sheikh Mohamed, has said. “Deterrence is not an end in and of itself,” he told the Abu Dhabi Strategic Debate forum. “While its purpose is to prevent further aggression, it’s also essential to create political conditions for diplomacy to succeed.