Iran to UAE: Hiding behind false claims is not possible, you are an aggressor

A senior Iranian official has slammed the United Arab Emirates for being an aggressor, not merely a supporter of aggression, stating that the UAE cannot hide its aggressive nature and role behind false claims and fabricated narratives.

Speaking at the BRICS foreign ministers' meeting in New Delhi on Thursday, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi rejected remarks by UAE's Minister of Foreign Affairs Khalifa bin Shaheen Al Marar, who accused Iran of attacking the UAE and labelled Tehran as an aggressor.

"Reports and news have been published in Western and American media about the UAE's direct attack on Iran," Gharibabadi said. "This is a clear case of direct participation in aggression. You cannot hide your aggressive nature and role behind these false claims and fabricated narratives."

"The UAE is an aggressor, not just a helper to aggressors," Gharibabadi 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.

Gharibabadi stressed that Iran could not remain passive while its people and infrastructure were targeted.

"We are a capable, great country with a proud nation. We could not stand by and watch our people and infrastructure being targeted by aggressors, with the participation and accompaniment of one of our neighbors, the United Arab Emirates,” he noted.

Iran, he said, had no choice but to strike all US base facilities in the UAE. "This was a war, and we defended our country in that war. This action is exactly in accordance with the UN Charter and within the framework of legitimate self-defense."

Gharibabadi reminded the UAE that Iran had sent official warnings to regional countries, including the UAE, days before the aggression began.

"We warned them that if they help the aggressor and put their land and facilities at the aggressor's disposal, Iran would have no choice but to exercise its right to legitimate self-defense and target those facilities to defend its country."

Gharibabadi detailed the scale of the attacks on Iran, as he addressed the emirate.

"With your help and participation, and with the direct involvement of the UAE in the aggression against Iran, 130,000 civilian targets were struck by the aggressors. More than 4,000 innocent civilians have been martyred. You cannot hide behind these false claims that contradict the facts on the ground."

He warned that Iran would pursue the matter through legal and international channels, stating that all documents and evidence have been prepared.

He noted that more than 120 official diplomatic notes, totaling over 500 pages, have already been sent to the UN Security Council.

He added that every fighter jet that took off from the UAE has been documented, with the time, date and flight path all recorded, and that all this evidence has been submitted to the Security Council.

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