Tehran reclassifies UAE as 'hostile base' amid Strait of Hormuz tensions
Iranian authorities have officially lifted the label of 'neighbours' with the United Arab Emirates, citing deepening defence ties with Washington and Tel Aviv as the catalyst for a shift in regional security architecture.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has issued a stark directive to the United Arab Emirates, formally reclassifying the nation from a neighbour to a 'hostile base'. This rhetorical escalation marks a significant pivot in Tehran's strategic messaging, driven by the UAE's intensified military and intelligence cooperation with the United States and Israel. The joint command of the IRGC stated that Emirati leadership must not permit their territory to be utilised for attacks against Iran, framing the nation's strategic position within the Strait of Hormuz as a critical liability.
Parliamentary member Ali Khezrian, speaking on state television, confirmed that the diplomatic designation of the Emirates has been removed, replaced by the designation of a hostile entity. This shift follows direct addresses from the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters of the Iranian armed forces, which accused Emirati leaders of transforming their country into a den for American and Zionist forces. The IRGC warned that any resumption of US or Israeli strikes on Iranian southern islands and ports would trigger a crushing response against the UAE, specifically targeting the nation's deepening political and intelligence entanglements with Washington and Tel Aviv.
The core of the dispute centres on the UAE's port of Fujairah, which the IRGC asserts sits on an area of the Strait of Hormuz over which Iran claims maritime control. Tehran has declared that all shipping travelling to or from the port is now subject to Iranian jurisdiction. This claim of authority comes as the UAE continues to expand its defence partnerships, including the deployment of advanced radar and missile batteries at the al-Dhafra airbase. US Ambassador Mike Huckabee recently confirmed in Tel Aviv that these deployments stem from an extraordinary relationship between the UAE and Israel, a connection formalised through the Abraham Accords.
In a reciprocal move, the United Arab Emirates has severed several economic and diplomatic links with Iran. The government has terminated visas for long-term Iranian residents and shuttered Iranian businesses, trade routes, and currency exchange networks. UAE officials have condemned Iranian aggression and asserted their sovereign right to defend their territory, including through military means. These actions have created a sharp divergence in regional stability, with the UAE positioning itself as a sovereign actor while Tehran views the alliance as a direct threat to national security.
Underlying the diplomatic fallout is a long-standing territorial dispute regarding the islands of Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Abu Musa. While Iran has controlled these islands since 1971, the UAE considers them crucial for enforcing maritime control over the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian state media has increasingly pointed to the UAE's involvement in regional strikes, circulating imagery purportedly showing UAE-operated French-made Mirage 2000-9 fighter jets over southern Iran. Although the UAE has dismissed specific reports of its aircraft striking Iranian desalination facilities as fake news, Tehran has maintained that the airspace and territory of Arab nations are being used to facilitate attacks on its soil.
The widening rift has significant implications for regional logistics, particularly as Iran seeks to replace lost sea routes following a naval blockade. Tehran is currently attempting to divert imports through land routes via Pakistan, Iraq, and Turkey to mitigate the impact on food inflation. As the UAE continues to normalise relations with Israel and expand its military footprint in the Gulf, the prospect of direct conflict between the two nations has moved from the realm of rhetoric to a tangible policy concern for the region.
