UAE denies Netanyahu office’s claim of secret wartime visit as Iran dubs it ‘unforgivable’

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The United Arab Emirates has denied “reports circulating” on Wednesday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu quietly visited the Gulf country during the Iran war.

Netanyahu’s office released a brief statement on Wednesday night, claiming that the Israeli premier “secretly” visited the Emirates “in the midst of Operation Roaring Lion … where he met with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed.”

“This visit has led to a historic breakthrough in relations between Israel and the UAE,” according to Netanyahu’s office.

The Emirati Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded with a statement saying that “allegations of undisclosed visits are ‘entirely unfounded unless officially announced by the relevant authorities in the UAE.”

“The UAE reaffirms that its relations with Israel are public and conducted within the framework of the well-known and officially declared Abraham Accords, and are not based on non-transparent or unofficial arrangements,” the statement said.

The ministry also denied that any Israeli military delegation had been received.

The Gulf nation normalised relations with Israel through the Abraham Accords in 2020.

Iran has criticised the accords and has repeatedly suggested over the years that Israel maintained a military and intelligence presence in the Emirates.

Following Israel’s statement, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi issued a threat on Wednesday night, stating in a post on X that “enmity with the great people of Iran is a foolish gamble,” without directly naming the UAE.

“Collusion with Israel in doing so: unforgivable,” he added.

“Netanyahu has now publicly revealed what Iran’s security services long ago conveyed to our leadership,” Araghchi said. “Those colluding with Israel to sow division will be held to account.”

Israel’s announcement came a day after US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee made a separate claim that Israel had sent Iron Dome air-defence weapons and personnel to the Emirates.

The UAE has borne the brunt of Iranian missile and drone fire even after the ceasefire was reached last month. According to Emirati officials, the Gulf country remains open for business and safe.

Last week, Emirati news agency WAM reported that Netanyahu was among the leaders who called the Emirati president to condemn Iranian attacks and express their solidarity with the Gulf federation, in a rare public acknowledgement of direct talks between the countries.

Israeli leaders have made occasional visits to the UAE in recent years.

Regional rifts widen

On Tuesday, Kuwait said four men were detained and two escaped while trying to infiltrate the island of Bubiyan in the Persian Gulf’s northwest on 1 May.

Iran’s foreign minister accused Kuwait of attempting to “sow discord” by detaining four Iranians that the Gulf country accuses of being IRGC operatives.

In a post Wednesday on X, Araghchi demanded the Iranians’ immediate release and said Tehran reserved the right to respond.

“This illegal act took place near an island used by the US to attack Iran,” Araghchi wrote.

Bubiyan Island is home to Mubarak Al Kabeer Port, which also came under Iranian attack during the war.