Iran Rebukes UAE for Allowing US-Israeli Military Presence on Its Soil

(MENAFN) Iran's Foreign Ministry launched a sharp diplomatic rebuke Tuesday against the United Arab Emirates, condemning what it characterized as Abu Dhabi's cooperation with "hostile parties" and cautioning that such conduct carries serious implications for regional peace and stability.

In a formal statement, the ministry alleged that the UAE had permitted a US and Israeli military presence on its soil — a development Tehran characterized as a direct threat to Iran's national security and the broader stability of the region.

Iran also flatly dismissed UAE claims that it had conducted missile or drone strikes against the Gulf state, labeling the accusations "unfounded." The ministry maintained that Iran's recent military actions were purely defensive in nature and directed exclusively at countering US operations in the region.

Tehran urged Abu Dhabi to disengage from what it described as entanglements with hostile actors, while reaffirming its own adherence to international law and the norms of good neighborly relations. The ministry added that Iran reserves the right to take all necessary steps to defend its national interests and security.

Iran's armed forces issued a separate denial through a state media outlet, categorically rejecting claims that any missile or drone operations had been launched against the UAE in recent days. Citing a statement from a spokesman for Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, the outlet reported that no such strikes had taken place, and that any genuine military action would have been "clearly and officially announced."

The spokesman dismissed accusations leveled by the UAE Defense Ministry as "baseless," and issued a stern warning: should any attack against Iran be traced to UAE territory, Tehran would respond with a "decisive and regret-inducing" retaliation.

The exchange of accusations comes amid sharply elevated tensions across the Gulf, with the UAE reporting a second consecutive day of attempted strikes. Emirati authorities said their air defense systems had successfully intercepted multiple waves of missiles and drones launched from Iran, while an earlier assault had sparked a significant fire at the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone.

The current crisis traces back to Feb. 28, when the US and Israel launched coordinated strikes against Iran, setting off a chain of retaliatory measures from Tehran and widespread disruptions to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. A ceasefire brokered by Pakistan came into effect on April 8, though subsequent negotiations in Islamabad failed to yield a binding agreement. US President Donald Trump later extended the truce with no fixed expiration date. Since April 13, the US Navy has maintained a blockade targeting Iranian maritime traffic across the strategically vital waterway.

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