DUBAI, May 14 (Reuters) – Iran’s foreign minister accused the United Arab Emirates of direct involvement in military operations against his country during a BRICS meeting in New Delhi on Thursday, Iranian state media reported.
The fight comes a day after the UAE denied a statement by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he visited the Gulf country during the Iran war, and Araqchi had already hit back, saying that ‘those who conspire with Israel to sow division will be held accountable.’
‘I did not mention the United Arab Emirates in my (BRICS) statement for the sake of unity. But the truth is that the UAE was directly involved in the aggression against my country. When the attacks began, they did not even issue a condemnation,’ Araqchi said, according to state media on Thursday, in response to comments made by the Emirati representative.
Iranian state media did not specify what the Emirati representative said.
According to reports, Araqchi argued that neither US bases nor an alliance with Israel provided the UAE with security and that it should reconsider its policy toward Iran.
‘We must live side by side in peace, and this requires peaceful relations and full understanding between the two countries,’ Araqchi added.
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Iran’s war began with US and Israeli strikes against Iran on February 28, and Tehran responded by firing missiles and drones at US bases and other targets in the Gulf countries.
The Wall Street Journal published a story on Monday stating that the United Arab Emirates carried out military operations against Iran in early April. Saudi Arabia has also launched several undisclosed attacks against Iran, according to Western and Iranian officials.
Iranian media have raised doubts about whether participants in the BRICS foreign ministers’ meeting in India will be able to issue a final statement due to differences between Iran and the UAE.
