Iran denied any attacks on the United Arab Emirates, while warning that it would give a “crushing response” to any attack launched from UAE territory.
In a statement issued on 5 May, the Khatam al-Anbiya headquarters, which coordinates the Islamic Republic’s armed forces, said Iran’s Armed Forces had not carried out “any missile or drone operations against the UAE in recent days”, adding that “if any action had been taken, we would have announced it clearly and firmly”.
The statement accused the UAE of becoming “one of the main American and Zionist bases” and warned that “if any action is taken from UAE territory against our islands, ports or coasts, we will respond with a crushing and decisive response.”
The UAE defence ministry said the country was targeted by Iranian missile and drone attacks on May 4 and 5. According to the UAE, an oil industrial complex in Fujairah caught fire and three Indian nationals were lightly injured in the 4 May attack.
The UAE Foreign Ministry said the country reserves the right to respond to Iranian attacks.
The oil-rich United Arab Emirates is considered a key ally of the United States in the Middle East region. The UAE is noted to have been hit harder than other Gulf states by Tehran’s strikes since the start of the US-Israeli war with Iran.