The United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced early Monday the closure of its embassy in Tehran and the withdrawal of its ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Iran along with all members of its diplomatic mission.
The action came in response to “blatant” Iranian missile attacks that targeted UAE territory, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement released on X.
“These hostile attacks against civilian sites, including residential areas, airports, ports and service facilities, threaten innocent civilians in a serious and irresponsible escalation and constitute a flagrant violation of national sovereignty, as well as a clear violation of international law and the Charter of the United Nations,” the statement added.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also confirmed that the decision reflects the UAE’s “firm and unwavering stance against any aggression that threatens its security and sovereignty”.
“It comes in light of continued hostile and provocative behavior that is undermining de-escalation efforts and pushing the region on a highly dangerous trajectory, threatening regional and international peace and stability, as well as energy security and the stability of the global economy,” the UAE said.
Missile attacks in the UAE
Iran has reportedly launched hundreds of missile and drone attacks on Dubai and Abu Dhabi since Saturday morning as Tehran retaliated against US-Israeli airstrikes.
UAE defenses intercepted most of them, but some reports indicated losses and damage in several areas in both cities.
The attacks led to panic among residents and posed a huge threat to the UAE’s economy and status as a stable financial, logistics and tourism hub.
Meanwhile, the UAE’s two key stock markets will be closed on Monday and Tuesday to avoid a possible crash.
The US and Israel launched joint missile strikes – dubbed Operation Roaring Lion/Operation Epic Fury – on Iran on Saturday, February 28.
According to several reports, Iran retaliated by attacking US facilities in Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and other neighboring Gulf countries.
Explosions rocked Tehran and other major Iranian cities on February 28. US-backed Israeli airstrikes killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with his daughter, grandson, daughter-in-law and son-in-law. US President Donald Trump and Iranian state media confirmed his death on March 1.
Meanwhile, the UAE Ministry of Defense announced that its air force and air defense units had successfully intercepted a significant number of aerial threats after Iran launched a large-scale counter-attack on US military bases in the UAE.
In a statement shared on X and subsequently forwarded by the Indian embassy in Abu Dhabi, the ministry confirmed that the military has “so far dealt with 165 ballistic missiles, two cruise missiles and 541 Iranian drones since the start of the Iranian attack.”
The UAE foreign ministry later said it had summoned Iran’s ambassador, Reza Ameri, and handed him a strongly worded letter protesting Iran’s “terrorist” attacks on the country’s soil.
In a post on X, the White House press secretary wrote: “President Trump spoke today with the leaders of Israel, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates. The President was also briefed on the shooting in Austin, Texas.”
