UAE rejects Iran’s ‘direct involvement’ claims in West Asia conflict, says allegations will not shake its “principled positions”
These statements were made by UAE Minister of State Khalifa Shaheen Al Marar during the BRICS Foreign Ministers Meeting here, where she reaffirmed that the UAE categorically rejects what it describes as Iran’s claims and attempts to legitimize attacks targeting the UAE and other countries in the region.
In an official statement issued by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Al Marar stated that the UAE “categorically rejects any allegations or threats targeting its sovereignty, national security or independent decision-making” while reaffirming that the country reserves “full sovereign, legal, diplomatic and military rights” to respond to threats or hostile acts.
“Attempts at coercion, leveling blame or encouraging malicious allegations will not undermine the UAE’s principled positions or deter the country from protecting its supreme national interests and promoting its sovereignty and independent decision-making,” the statement said. he said.
The UAE also accused Iran of launching repeated attacks against the country since the conflict began on February 28, and claimed that Emirati air defenses had intercepted nearly 3,000 ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones from Iran, which allegedly targeted civilian facilities and critical infrastructure, including airports, ports, oil facilities, desalination plants, energy networks and residential areas.
Al Marar said Iran continued its attacks “despite numerous international and regional condemnations”, citing UN Security Council Resolution 2817 (2026), resolutions adopted by the UN Human Rights Council, and decisions of international organizations, including the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
These decisions, the UAE said, reflected what it called a “clear international consensus” rejecting attacks on state sovereignty and civilian infrastructure. The UAE also accused Iran of blocking international sea lanes, including the “de facto closure” of the Strait of Hormuz, describing such actions as a threat to regional stability and global energy security.
“Targeting commercial shipping and using the Strait of Hormuz as a means of economic pressure or blackmail is an act of piracy and poses a direct threat to the stability of the region, its people and global energy security,” the statement said.
The statement also stated that the UAE “does not seek protection from others” and is able to protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity in accordance with Article 51 of the UN Charter.
The harsh reaction from Abu Dhabi came after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused the UAE of actively participating in the aggression against Iran in his statements during the BRICS Foreign Ministers Meeting.
Araghchi said, “Your alliance with the Israelis did not protect you either, you should reconsider your policy towards Iran. I did not mention the United Arab Emirates in my speech on behalf of the Union and I preferred not to mention it. But in fact, I must say that the UAE was directly involved in the act of aggression against my country.”
He also claimed that the UAE allowed its territory to be used for attacks against Iran.
Araghchi said, “They allowed their territory to be used to open fire with artillery and equipment against us. Just yesterday, it was revealed that Netanyahu went to the Emirates and Abu Dhabi during the war. It was also revealed that they participated in these attacks and may even have acted directly against us. So the Emirates is an active partner in this attack and there is no doubt about it.” he said.
Although both countries are members of the BRICS group, the ongoing West Asian conflict has exposed deep divisions within the bloc, especially between the UAE and Iran, which are at the center of the entire crisis, over regional security, sovereignty and geopolitical alignments; Tensions between Tehran and Abu Dhabi have increasingly spread to multilateral diplomatic platforms.
