UAE President Vows to Confront Growing Threats from Iranian Attacks

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Iran’s judiciary chief contradicts earlier apology to Gulf nations, warns of continued attacks. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian had offered an apology to neighboring countries for launching strikes on their territories hosting US military bases. However, his comments were swiftly contradicted by Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, the country’s judiciary chief.

Ejei stated that evidence from Iran’s armed forces shows that certain countries in the region are “openly and covertly at the disposal of the enemy.” He warned that heavy attacks on these targets will continue. This statement contradicts Pezeshkian’s earlier remarks that Gulf countries would not be targeted unless attacks originated from their territories.

Pezeshkian had also emphasized Iran’s commitment to preserving friendly relations with neighboring nations, while maintaining its right to defend itself against US-Israeli aggression. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi clarified the leader’s comments on social media, stating that Pezeshkian expressed openness to de-escalation within the region, provided that neighboring countries’ airspace, territory, and waters are not used to attack the Iranian people.

The Gulf Cooperation Council nations - Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman - have been targeted due to the presence of US assets within and around their borders. The attacks have caused significant disruption to flights, closure of airspace, and impacts on oil-and-gas production worldwide.

On Saturday, Iranian state media reported that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps targeted US forces at Bahrain’s Jufair airbase in retaliation for an attack on a freshwater desalination plant on Qeshm Island. Araghchi described the US attack as “a dangerous move with grave consequences,” accusing the US of committing a “blatant and desperate crime” that affected the water supply to 30 villages.

The UAE, which has been the most heavily targeted nation in the Gulf during the war, reported being hit by 16 ballistic missiles and over 120 drones on Saturday. The country’s Ministry of Defence stated that it is prepared to confront threats against its security and the protection of all citizens.

Source: Al Jazeera