UAE says defence ties are sovereign matter, rejects Iran statement on US cooperation

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The United Arab Emirates said its ties and international and defence partnerships are a “purely sovereign matter,” rejecting an Iranian statement that Abu Dhabi’s cooperation with the United States threatened Iran’s security and national interests.

UAE response

The UAE foreign ministry said the Gulf country reserves its full sovereign, legal, diplomatic and military rights to address any “threat, allegation or hostile act”.

Recent escalation and competing accounts

The exchange followed reports by the UAE that it had been attacked in recent days by Iran after four weeks of relative calm since a ceasefire was 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 was launched from the UAE against Iran.

How do you assess the impact of the UAE-Iran dispute on regional security?