Arabic version: إيران تشدد خطابها ضد الإمارات في الصراع المستمر
Iranian authorities have increasingly singled out the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in their war messaging, warning of stronger strikes against the country if the United States and Israel resume their attacks. “Our label of ‘neighbours’ with the Emirates has for now been lifted, and the label of ‘hostile base’ has been set for the country,” stated Ali Khezrian, a member of the Iranian parliament’s national security commission, on state television earlier this week. According to Al Jazeera, the UAE was directly referenced in statements from the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters of the Iranian armed forces this month, following a recent exchange of fire between Iran and the US over the Strait of Hormuz.
The Iranian armed forces warned Emirati leaders against turning their country into a base for American and Israeli military operations, stating that such actions contribute to regional insecurity. They threatened a “crushing and regret-inducing response” to any further attacks against Iranian territories. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) also emphasized that the UAE’s critical port of Fujairah lies within an area of the Strait of Hormuz under Iranian control, implying that any vessels traveling to or from the port are subject to Iranian jurisdiction.
In response, the UAE has condemned Iranian attacks and asserted its right to retaliate, including through military means. The UAE has taken steps to tighten its relations with the US and Israel, including closing Iranian businesses and restricting visas for Iranians. These deteriorating relations have significant implications for Iran, which relies on Emirati ports for imports, particularly as it seeks alternative land routes amid a US naval blockade.
The UAE’s military ties with the US and Israel have expanded significantly since the signing of the Abraham Accords in 2020, which normalized relations between the UAE and Israel. Reports indicate that Israel has provided the UAE with advanced military technology, including missile defense systems. An advisor to the UAE’s president remarked that Iranian aggression against Arab nations only serves to strengthen ties between Israel and its Arab allies.
As tensions continue to escalate, Iranian state media have suggested that the UAE may have participated in recent strikes against Iranian territory, although official blame has not been placed on the UAE by Iranian military leaders. The ongoing conflict and its implications for regional stability remain a critical concern as both nations navigate their fraught relationship.
