UAE 'active partner' in US-Israeli aggression on Iran: FM Araghchi

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has slammed the United Arab Emirates for being an active partner in the US-Israeli aggression against Iran, responding sharply to baseless claims made by a UAE representative.

Speaking during a BRICS foreign ministers’ meeting in New Delhi on Thursday, Abbas Araghchi condemned baseless claims made by the Emirati representative at the same gathering.

Araghchi said he had chosen not to name the UAE in his own speech out of a desire to preserve unity, but then felt compelled to set the record straight.

“The UAE was directly involved in the act of aggression against my country,” he said.

During the unprovoked war of aggression by a US-Israeli military coalition, launched on February 28, Iran responded in self-defense with countless missile and drone attacks against American and Israeli interests in the region, particularly those in the Persian Gulf states, including the UAE.

The Iranian minister noted that when the aggression began, the UAE refused even to condemn it.

“They did not condemn the savage attack on a school on the very first day of the aggression – an attack in which more than 170 innocent students were killed,” Araghchi said.

Beyond failing to condemn the aggression itself, he added, the UAE later participated actively by putting military bases, airspace, territory and facilities at the disposal of the United States and Israel.

“They provided all kinds of intelligence and other facilities to the Israelis and Americans to attack our people,” he said.

Araghchi expressed regret that a neighboring country which Iran considers a brother and a friend decided to side with the aggressors.

Addressing the Emirati delegate directly, he asked, “The Emirati representative speaks about international law – so please tell me which part of international law allows you to support an unprovoked act of aggression with no justification?”

Nonetheless, Araghchi stressed, Iran did not attack the UAE itself. “We only targeted US military bases and US military facilities inside the UAE,” he said.

He added that Iran struck American forces and defense systems, and only acted in self-defense as the attacks intensified.

Araghchi said he sought to offer "brotherly advice to Emirati friends", stating that they had seen that the presence of US forces and bases on their soil did not secure them.

“Your alliance with the Israelis did not protect you either,” he said. “I advise you to reconsider your way of thinking.”

Addressing the Emirati official directly again, Araghchi said, “If you want Israel to secure you, this is the result. If you want America to secure you, this is the same result you are now complaining about.”

Araghchi said it was disclosed just the previous day that Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu had travelled to the UAE and Abu Dhabi during the war.

“It was also revealed that they participated in these attacks, and perhaps even acted directly against us,” he said. “So the UAE is an active partner in this aggression – there is no doubt about it.”

Responding to another part of the Emirati delegate’s claims, Araghchi denied that Iran had struck US military bases in the UAE two hours after the initial attack. “That action was taken the next day,” he said.

But he insisted there was extensive evidence that the UAE had made its military bases available to the Americans to attack Iran.

“They allowed their territory to be used to fire artillery and equipment against us,” he said. “Just yesterday, it was revealed that their fighter jets participated in the attacks against us and even acted directly against us. Therefore, the UAE is an active partner in this aggression – there is no doubt about it.”

Araghchi urged other BRICS members that if they wish to adopt a fair stance, the aggression of the United States, Israel, and the UAE against Iran must be condemned.

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