Iran Labels This Arab Country as an "Enemy Base" and Threatens Bombardment

Iran is intensifying its confrontational narrative against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and issuing stark warnings of more lethal attacks. Tehran has threatened to bombard the country if the United States and Israel resume their assaults on Iran. Citing Al Jazeera, tensions peaked after Ali Khezrian, a member of Iran’s parliamentary national security commission, officially revoked the UAE’s “neighbour” status. Iran now views the Arab nation as a genuine threat to its national security. “Our ‘neighbour’ label with the Emirates has been revoked for now, and the ‘enemy base’ label has been assigned to that country,” Khezrian stated in an interview with state television earlier this week. Similar sentiments were echoed by the Central Headquarters of Khatam al-Anbiya from Iran’s armed forces. This joint command, led by generals from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), warned Emirati leaders not to turn their territory into a haven for foreign military powers. “They must not turn their country into a nest for America and Zionists, as well as their military forces and equipment, to betray the Islamic world and Muslims,” the official statement from the joint command emphasised a week ago. Iran assesses that the UAE’s deepening military, political, and intelligence relations with the US and Israel have contributed to regional instability. Tehran has threatened to deliver a response that will cause profound regret if attacks on Iran’s southern islands and ports recur. On the other hand, the UAE has not remained silent and has repeatedly condemned Iran’s attacks. The UAE government asserts its right to respond, including through military means, and has taken firm steps by revoking visas for Iranian citizens and closing various Iranian business networks and trade routes in its territory. This worsening relationship significantly affects Iran’s economy, as many imports from third markets, including China, typically enter through Emirati ports. Due to the US naval blockade and a surge in food inflation, Tehran is now seeking alternative land routes via Pakistan, Iraq, and Turkey. Iran’s focus on the UAE is also triggered by the significant US military presence at the al-Dhafra air base and intelligence cooperation with Israel since the signing of the Abraham Accords in 2020. Even US Ambassador Mike Huckabee confirmed that Israel has sent Iron Dome missile defence technology along with its personnel to the UAE as part of the two countries’ extraordinary relations. Meanwhile, UAE Presidential Advisor Anwar Gargash stated that Iran’s attacks on its Arab neighbours would only strengthen ties between Israel and countries with diplomatic relations with it. The UAE emphasises that its international defence partnerships are a matter of pure sovereignty and accuses Tehran of misleading the international community to justify its attacks.