Iran Denies UAE Strike Plans

(MENAFN) Iran declared Monday it harbors no intention of targeting the United Arab Emirates, even as the Gulf nation accused Tehran of striking civilian sites with missiles and drones — and as both sides exchanged increasingly sharp warnings that threaten to ignite a broader regional confrontation.

A state-run news agency, citing a senior military source, reported that Iran has no plan to target the UAE. The remarks came hours after the UAE's Foreign Ministry issued a statement accusing Iranian missiles and drones of hitting civilian targets. The UAE's Fujairah Media Office subsequently confirmed that a fire had broken out at the Fujairah Oil Industrial Zone following an Iranian attack, leaving three people injured.

In a separate citation, the news agency quoted another military source who denied any pre-designed Iranian plan to strike the oil facilities, instead laying blame squarely on Washington. "What happened was a result of the U.S. military's adventurism to create a passage for ships to illegally pass through the forbidden passages of the Strait of Hormuz, and the U.S. military must be held accountable for it," the source said.

The same source called on American officials to end "the ugly behavior of using force in the diplomatic process and stop military adventurism" in the waters of West Asia.

The UAE's Foreign Ministry responded in stark terms, characterizing Iran's strikes as a dangerous escalation and an unacceptable act of aggression that directly threatens the country's security, stability and territorial integrity. The ministry asserted that the UAE retains the "full and legitimate right" to respond to the attacks.

Iran wasted little time firing back at that assertion. Tehran's semi-official Tasnim news agency, citing an informed military source, warned that should the UAE take any "unwise" action, all its interests would become legitimate targets for Iran, with none of its facilities guaranteed safety.

The source sought to clarify the nature of the warning while sharpening its edge. "if the UAE becomes a pawn in Israel's game and acts imprudently, it will receive an unforgettable lesson," the source said, noting that no official threat had yet been issued by Abu Dhabi and that the current exchange remained at the level of media-cited sources.

The military source then issued what amounted to the starkest warning yet: "The UAE knows that it is sitting in a very fragile glass house and insecurity is absolute poison for it. If it wants to repeat the mistake of the 40-day war, we will completely abandon self-restraint."

The escalating exchange of accusations and threats raises fears of a dramatic widening of regional hostilities, with the Strait of Hormuz — a critical artery for global energy supplies — at the center of the crisis.

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