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‘Forsaken wisdom’: UAE rejects Iran's accusations of territory use in US strikes on Kharg Island

The UAE said that Iran's Abbas Araghchi has “condemned his own country, entrenched its isolation, and exposed its aggression” through his statement.

Updated on: Mar 15, 2026, 09:48:59 IST
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The United Arab Emirates’ presidential advisor, Anwar Gargash, refuted Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi’s accusations that the US used the UAE territory to attack Tehran’s Kharg Island, calling it “a part of a confused policy that has misdirected its aim, lost its compass, and forsaken wisdom.”

A satellite view of Iran's Kharg Island, which hosts the country's main crude export terminal and is responsible for the overwhelming majority of its oil shipments to the world, about 25 kilometres south of the mainland in the north of the Gulf, on March 2, 2026. (AFP File)
A satellite view of Iran's Kharg Island, which hosts the country's main crude export terminal and is responsible for the overwhelming majority of its oil shipments to the world, about 25 kilometres south of the mainland in the north of the Gulf, on March 2, 2026. (AFP File)

Gargash said in a post on X that the UAE has the right to defend itself against Iran's ongoing strikes, but chooses to exercise restraint.

“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.

Gargash said that Araghchi has “condemned his own country, entrenched its isolation, and exposed its aggression” through his statement. According to him, the Iranian foreign minister’s statement came while knowing that the “UAE exerted sincere efforts until the very last moment to mediate between Washington and Tehran to avert this war.”

Iran’s claims on the UAE

Iran issued an evacuation warning for three major ports in the United Arab Emirates on Saturday, including the busiest in the Middle East, openly threatening a neighbouring country's non-US assets for the first time as its war with the US and Israel entered its third week.

Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi told MS NOW that the US attacked Kharg Island and Abu Musa Island with low-range artillery from two locations in the UAE, Ras Al-Khaimah and a place "very close to Dubai," calling that dangerous and saying Iran "will try to be careful not to attack any populated area" there.

Hours after the threat, there was no sign of an attack on Dubai's Jebel Ali port - the Mideast's busiest - or the Khalifa port in Abu Dhabi. But images published by the Associated Press showed a fire at the third port, in Fujairah, caused by debris from an intercepted Iranian drone hitting an oil facility.

Iran has fired hundreds of missiles and drones at Arab Gulf neighbours during the war, but it said it was targeting US assets, even as hits or attempts were reported on civilian ones such as airports and oil fields.

  • Shivam Pratap Singh
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Shivam Pratap Singh

    Shivam Pratap Singh is a digital journalist who works as a Deputy Chief Content Producer with Hindustan Times. Having previously worked with various platforms covering national, international as well as sports events, he blends in various topics to easy to read news pieces for the benefit of the reader. Shivam holds a Master's degree in International Relations from Jamia Millia Islamia, bringing in a unique perspective for whatever is happening around the world. An avid reader, he can be seen immersed in books and book shops while not working. Shivam treats every topic almost equally but loves to right about foreign affairs and politics of India. He has over half-a-decade of experience in digital journalism though his career started in print.Read More

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