Abu Dhabi tells Tehran defense partnerships are sovereign issue

ABU DHABI,— The United Arab Emirates said Wednesday that its international and defense partnerships are a sovereign matter, rejecting earlier remarks by Iran that Abu Dhabi’s cooperation with the United States threatened Iranian security and national interests.

In a statement, the UAE Foreign Ministry said the Gulf state reserves its full sovereign, legal, diplomatic and military rights to respond to any threat, allegation or hostile act directed at the country.

The ministry said the UAE’s international relations and defense partnerships are “an exclusively sovereign matter” and added that no side has the right to use them as a reason for threats, interference or incitement.

The statement also said any direct or indirect threats against the country’s security, civilian infrastructure, critical facilities, or the safety of citizens, residents and visitors are unacceptable and violate principles of good neighborliness, international law and the United Nations Charter.

The dispute between the two countries intensified after the UAE reported attacks allegedly launched by Iran in recent days following four weeks of relative calm after a ceasefire announced by the United States.

Iran denied carrying out operations against the UAE in recent days, but warned of a “crushing response” if any action against Iran was launched from the UAE.

The United States and Israel carried out joint airstrikes against Iran on Feb. 28, 2026. Iran later responded with thousands of missile and drone attacks targeting locations across the UAE Gulf region, according to the report. Targets included airports, seaports, hotels, residential areas and oil facilities in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Copyright © 2026 Dubai Diplomacy. All rights reserved.

Your support matters! Consider buying us a coffee — every bit helps keep independent news alive.

Related posts:

Is a Gulf NATO Really Possible? Saudi-UAE rift widens as Emirates quits oil cartel Gulf states press Trump to continue war until Iran is fully weakened UAE, South Korea sign $35 billion defense cooperation MOU UAE rejects Bloomberg report on its defensive capabilities Gulf states say ending Iran war not enough, degrade its capabilities Emirati official calls for closer Israel ties, criticizes Arab states Abu Dhabi’s sovereign fund takes over ADQ in major wealth reshuffle