Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi issued a blunt threat to the United Arab Emirates on May 13, 2026, asserting that Tehran had known for months about Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s secret wartime visit to Abu Dhabi.
Araghchi posted the warning on X shortly after Netanyahu publicly disclosed the March 26 meeting. “Netanyahu has now publicly revealed what Iran’s security services long ago conveyed to our leadership,” Araghchi wrote. “Enmity with the Great People of Iran is a foolish gamble. Collusion with Israel in doing so: unforgivable.”
Netanyahu revealed that he traveled to the UAE on March 26, 2026, and met President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed for several hours in Al-Ain near the Oman border. The prime minister’s former spokesman confirmed the account remains accurate despite the UAE denial.
Abu Dhabi immediately rejected the reports. Officials described the claims of a Netanyahu visit as unfounded and without basis.
US Senator Marco Rubio addressed the broader regional fallout, stating that China possesses an interest in resolving Gulf turmoil and must do more to alter Iran’s behavior. Rubio’s remarks came amid heightened tensions following the disclosure of the covert trip.
The exchange highlights ongoing friction between Iran and Gulf states that have expanded ties with Israel. Araghchi’s message directly linked any such cooperation to future consequences for the UAE.
Netanyahu’s disclosure and the Iranian response occurred on the same day, intensifying diplomatic pressure across the region without immediate clarification from other parties involved.
The ongoing diplomatic exchanges between Iran and the UAE reflect deep seated mistrust that has characterized their relations for years, particularly since the normalization agreements between Israel and several Arab nations.
