A day after US forces carried out a wide-ranging bombing operation on Iran’s Kharg Island, Tehran alleged on Saturday that the attack had been launched from the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Kharg Island is strategically located near the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz and hosts Iran’s major oil export terminals.
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said the Kharg and Abu Musa islands were struck using HIMARS, a short-range artillery-rocket system. He alleged that these rockets were launched from locations in the UAE, including Ras Al Khaimah and an area close to Dubai.
“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.
Araghchi warned that Iran would respond to such attacks by targeting US bases in neighbouring countries.
“What we are doing within the framework of legitimate defence is targeting American bases, facilities, assets and interests, which unfortunately are located in the territories of our neighbours,” he added.
An Iranian military spokesperson called on people in the UAE to evacuate ports, docks, and "American hideouts", saying US forces had targeted Iranian islands from those areas, according to Reuters.
Iran has also warned residents to leave areas near Jebel Ali port in Dubai, Khalifa port in Abu Dhabi and the UAE's Fujairah port and said it was targeting branches of US banks in the Gulf.
On Saturday, US President Donald Trump said American forces had bombed Kharg Island, describing it as Iran’s “crown jewel,” and claimed that all military targets in the area had been “obliterated.” He warned that Iran’s oil infrastructure on the island could be the next target if Tehran continues to disrupt shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
Meanwhile, the UAE rejected Iran’s allegation that its territory had been used to launch the attack. In a post on X, Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the UAE president, said the country had the right to defend itself but “continues to prioritise reason and logic,” adding that Tehran’s policy appeared “confused and lacking wisdom.”
