Iran Rejects UAE Missile Claims, Calls Allegations ‘Baseless’ Amid Rising Gulf Tensions
Iran has rejected the United Arab Emirates’ allegation that Tehran fired ballistic missiles towards the Gulf state, describing the claim as “baseless” and warning that such accusations could undermine regional trust and security efforts.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said Tehran “categorically rejected” the UAE’s claim and urged regional countries to avoid allegations that could further complicate an already tense situation in the Middle East.
Baghaei said such statements were inconsistent with the principle of good neighbourliness and could disrupt efforts to build trust among countries in the region.
He also accused the United States and Israel of contributing to instability in the region and urged neighbouring countries to refrain from what he described as unfounded accusations against Iran.
UAE Accuses Iran of Missile Attack
The Iranian response came after the UAE said on Tuesday that its air defences had detected two ballistic missiles launched from Iran towards the country.
According to the UAE authorities, one missile fell outside the country’s territorial waters, while the other came down within its territorial waters.
A subsequent statement said an assessment found that the missiles were targeting maritime navigation before falling into the sea.
The UAE issued the statement after residents received a brief phone alert warning of a “potential missile threat”. The alert was the first of its kind since a false alarm in June and another warning in July over an attack that ultimately did not enter UAE territory.
UAE Suspends Trade With Iran
Following the alleged missile incident and amid wider regional tensions, the UAE announced a suspension of trade and financial dealings with Iran until further notice.
The development comes as the Strait of Hormuz remains a major point of tension. Iran has warned that the strategic waterway will remain closed until it reaches a peace agreement with the United States.
Shipping leaving UAE ports must pass through the Strait of Hormuz to reach international waters, making any prolonged disruption a major concern for regional trade and energy supplies.
Tankers Also Targeted
The latest dispute comes amid continued tensions involving shipping in the Gulf. Tankers belonging to the UAE’s state-owned oil company ADNOC have reportedly been targeted repeatedly in recent weeks.
When the wider Middle East conflict began on February 28, the UAE was among the countries most heavily targeted by Iranian missile and drone attacks, with nearly 3,000 missiles and drones reportedly directed towards its territory.
Following a memorandum of understanding reached between the two sides in June, the UAE had reported no further attacks for a period. That arrangement has since broken down, with tensions again rising across the Gulf.
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