NEW DELHI: Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused the United Arab Emirates on Thursday of direct involvement in military operations against Iran, escalating Tehran’s criticism of regional states during a BRICS meeting in New Delhi.
Araghchi made the remarks in response to comments by the Emirati representative, adding that he had avoided naming the UAE in his main speech “for the sake of unity.”
“But the truth is that the UAE was directly involved in the aggression against my country,” Araghchi said, adding that when the attacks began, the UAE did not even issue a condemnation.
He further accused Abu Dhabi of providing bases, airspace, territory, intelligence, and other facilities to the United States and Israel during the attacks.
Araghchi said Iran had not attacked the UAE, but had instead targeted US military bases and facilities located on Emirati soil.
He urged the UAE to reconsider its policy toward Iran, saying that neither the US military presence nor ties with Israel had ensured its protection.
His remarks came amid the backdrop of the conflict involving Iran, the United States, and Israel, during which Tehran said it targeted US military positions in response to attacks on Iran.
They also followed reports that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had visited Abu Dhabi during the war and that Israel had provided the UAE with military equipment, although the UAE rejected reports of the visit.
Araghchi cited these reports in his remarks, saying the UAE had become an “active partner in this aggression.”
The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday that he had made a secret visit to the United Arab Emirates during the US-Israeli war with Iran earlier this year, where he met UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed.