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Tensions in the Middle East have intensified after Iran accused the United States of launching attacks on its strategic Kharg Island using locations inside the United Arab Emirates. The allegation quickly drew a sharp response from Abu Dhabi, which firmly rejected the claims and described Tehran’s accusation as misguided.
The dispute comes as the ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran enters its third week. Kharg Island, which handles most of Iran’s crude oil exports, has become a major focus in the conflict after Washington confirmed strikes on military targets there. As accusations and warnings continue from both sides, the situation has raised concerns about regional security and global energy supply.
Iran-Israel War Latest Update: Did the US Use UAE Territory to Strike Iran’s Kharg Island?
Iran has claimed that US forces launched rocket attacks on Kharg Island from locations within the United Arab Emirates. According to Iranian officials, rockets were fired from areas including Ras Al Khaimah and locations near Dubai.
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Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said the attacks involved the HIMARS artillery-rocket system and alleged that neighbouring territories were used to target Iranian facilities.
“They launched these rockets from the soil of our neighbours. It is crystal clear they are using our neighbours’ territory to attack us, and this is absolutely unacceptable,” he said.
The accusations came shortly after the United States carried out strikes on Kharg Island, which hosts Iran’s main oil export terminal. The island lies about 21 miles off Iran’s southern coast and plays a crucial role in the country’s energy exports.
The US confirmed that its forces struck military sites on the island during a large-scale operation.
Iran-Israel War Latest Update: UAE Rejects Iran’s Accusations & Calls Them ‘Confused’
The United Arab Emirates quickly dismissed Iran’s allegations that its territory was used to attack Iran. Anwar Gargash, a senior adviser to the UAE president, strongly rejected the claim and criticised Tehran’s statements.
“Following the brutal Iranian attack on the UAE, Mr Abbas Araghchi emerges to accuse the UAE of aggression against Iran, as part of a confused policy that has misdirected its aim, lost its compass, and forsaken wisdom. The UAE has the right to self-defence in the face of this terrorist aggression imposed upon it, yet it continues to prioritise reason and logic, maintaining restraint and seeking an exit for Iran and the region,” he wrote on X.
The UAE has maintained that it is not involved in any attack on Iranian territory and has called for restraint amid rising regional tensions. Officials in Abu Dhabi say the country continues to prioritise stability and diplomacy despite recent threats from Tehran.
Iran-Israel War Latest Update: Why Kharg Island is Strategically Important?
Kharg Island holds enormous strategic value because it serves as Iran’s main oil export terminal. Most of the country’s crude shipments pass through this small island in the Persian Gulf.
Because of this, any attack on Kharg Island has the potential to disrupt global oil supplies and increase instability in international energy markets. US President Donald Trump confirmed that American forces struck military targets on the island. He described the operation as a major military action.
“Moments ago, at my direction, the United States Central Command executed one of the most powerful bombing raids in the History of the Middle East, and totally obliterated every MILITARY target in Iran’s crown jewel, Kharg Island,” Trump said.
He also warned that the US could target oil infrastructure if Iran attempted to disrupt shipping routes in the region.
“For reasons of decency, I have chosen NOT to wipe out the Oil Infrastructure on the Island. However, should Iran, or anyone else, do anything to interfere with the Free and Safe Passage of Ships through the Strait of Hormuz, I will immediately reconsider this decision.”
Iran-Israel War Latest Update: Iran Threatens Regional Energy Infrastructure
Following the strike on Kharg Island, Iran issued strong warnings about potential retaliation.
Iranian officials said any attack on the country’s oil infrastructure could lead to a wider response targeting energy facilities across the region. The warning specifically mentioned oil infrastructure linked to companies that cooperate with the United States.
A spokesperson for Iran’s Central Headquarters of Khatam al-Anbiya warned that if Iranian energy facilities were targeted, the consequences could spread across the Middle East.
He said that if Iran’s oil infrastructure is attacked, “all the oil and energy infrastructure belonging to oil companies across the region that have American shares or cooperate with the United States will be destroyed and turned into a pile of ashes.”
Such threats have increased concerns about the safety of energy infrastructure and maritime routes in the Gulf.
Iran-Israel War Latest Update: Rising Tensions Around Key Gulf Ports
The conflict has also raised alarm around major ports in the United Arab Emirates. Iran urged people to evacuate major ports in the region, including Dubai’s Jebel Ali port and Abu Dhabi’s Khalifa port, warning that they could become targets if the conflict escalates.
While no major attack followed those warnings, debris from an intercepted Iranian drone reportedly struck an oil facility in Fujairah, causing a fire. Security agencies across the Gulf have since increased surveillance and defensive measures around energy installations and shipping routes.
As the confrontation between Iran, the United States, and Israel continues, experts warn that further escalation could threaten global trade routes and oil supplies passing through the Strait of Hormuz.