Iran Warns UAE of Heavy Cost After Netanyahu Visit
Mohsen Rezaei warned the United Arab Emirates of severe consequences after the country hosted a secret visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Iranian officials have issued stern warnings to the United Arab Emirates following a secret visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Abu Dhabi. Mohsen Rezaei, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, stated that hosting the Israeli leader would not have favorable consequences and would come at a heavy cost. Rezaei, who referred to Netanyahu as the "Butcher of Gaza," argued that the visit would not bring security to the UAE, comparing it to the presence of U.S. military bases.
Netanyahu met with Emirati President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan over the weekend to discuss bilateral relations and regional challenges. The Iranian Foreign Ministry condemned the meeting, describing the consequences of Israel's regional presence as very precarious and urging regional governments to avoid facilitating what it termed a destructive presence.
Diplomatic tensions between Tehran and Abu Dhabi have further intensified over territorial disputes in the Persian Gulf. Following calls from UAE Minister of State Khalifa Shaheen Al Marar at the 81st UN General Assembly for a peaceful settlement or legal referral regarding the islands of Abu Musa, Greater Tunb, and Lesser Tunb, Iran rejected the claims. Iranian authorities asserted complete and non-negotiable sovereignty over the islands and insisted on the use of the name Persian Gulf for the waterway.
