Iran Singles Out UAE as Hostile Base in Recent War Messaging

Iranian authorities have increasingly singled out the United Arab Emirates in their war messaging and warned of stronger strikes against the country if the United States and Israel resume 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,” Ali Khezrian, a member of the Iranian parliament’s national security commission, told state television earlier this week.

The UAE was also directly referenced in statements issued by the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters of the Iranian armed forces this month. ” It said the UAE’s deepening military, political and intelligence ties with the U.S. and Israel were contributing to regional insecurity and warned of a response to any more attacks against Iran’s southern islands and ports.

The IRGC has declared that the UAE’s critical port of Fujairah sits on an area of the Strait of Hormuz over which Iran exerts maritime control.

Background to the Tensions The U.S. military has maintained a significant presence in the UAE for years, including at the al-Dhafra airbase outside Abu Dhabi. In 2020 the UAE signed the Abraham Accords to normalize relations with Israel. Since then, the two countries have expanded military and intelligence cooperation.

During the recent conflict Israel sent Iron Dome anti-missile batteries and personnel to the UAE. The UAE has said its foreign relations and international defence partnerships are a sovereign matter and that Iran has sought to justify its actions by claiming Arab territory and airspace are used to facilitate attacks on Iran.

The two countries also maintain a long-running dispute over the islands of Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb and Abu Musa, which Iran has controlled since 1971. These islands are viewed as important for enforcing control over the Strait of Hormuz.

The UAE has condemned Iranian attacks and said it reserves the right to respond, including through military means. It has terminated visas for Iranians living there for years, closed Iranian businesses, trade routes, currency exchange networks and institutions.

The darkening relations have affected Iran as well. The country brought in much of its imports from third markets, including China, through Emirati ports. Iranian authorities have been trying to replace lost sea routes with land routes through Pakistan, Iraq, Turkiye and other neighbours following the U.S. naval blockade of Iran’s ports.

Iranian state media and commentators have suggested the UAE may have been involved in strikes on Iranian territory, including attacks that damaged oil facilities on southern islands. Iranian military commanders and politicians have not officially blamed the UAE for any attacks, although multiple state television programmes have pointed to the country.

In early April an Iranian state broadcaster showed what it said was wreckage of a Chinese-made Wing Loong drone previously used by the UAE. Reports also circulated of a French-made Mirage 2000-9 operated by the UAE flying over southern Iran after explosions at an oil refinery in Lavan and in Siri on April 8.

The port of Fujairah was struck earlier this month, but Iran denied responsibility for the incident.