Iran and the UAE traded sharp reactions after Israel claimed Benjamin Netanyahu secretly visited Abu Dhabi during the ongoing military confrontation with Tehran.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at the Knesset in Jerusalem on October 13, while Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi addresses a press conference in Tehran on January 18, 2026. (Photo: @IsraeliPM/X via ANI; Xinhua via IANS)
Iran has reacted strongly to Israeli claims that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu secretly visited the United Arab Emirates during the ongoing conflict with Tehran, with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warning that those “colluding with Israel” would be held accountable.
The remarks came amid a rapidly escalating war of narratives in West Asia after Israel claimed a behind-the-scenes diplomatic breakthrough with the UAE during “Operation Roaring Lion”, even as Abu Dhabi publicly rejected reports of any such visit or undisclosed military coordination.
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In a post on X, Araghchi said Iran’s security agencies had already warned the country’s leadership about attempts to build anti-Iran alignments in the region.
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“Netanyahu has now publicly revealed what Iran’s security services long ago conveyed to our leadership. Enmity with the Great People of Iran is a foolish gamble. Collusion with Israel in doing so: unforgivable. Those colluding with Israel to sow division will be held to account,” he said.
The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office on Wednesday said Netanyahu had secretly travelled to the UAE during the military campaign against Iran and held talks with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
In a statement posted on X, the Israeli PMO described the visit as a “historic breakthrough” in bilateral ties.
“Prime Minister’s Office Statement: In the midst of Operation Roaring Lion, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu secretly visited the United Arab Emirates, 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,” the statement said.
Israeli media reports added to the speculation surrounding the alleged visit and security cooperation between the two countries.
According to The Times of Israel, senior US officials confirmed earlier this week that Israel had sent an Iron Dome battery along with personnel to the UAE during the conflict with Iran.
The report also cited claims that Mossad chief David Barnea travelled to the UAE at least twice during the war to coordinate over the regional situation. The Wall Street Journal, quoting Arab officials and a source familiar with the matter, also reported on the alleged coordination.
The Times of Israel further claimed that the two countries coordinated an attack on a major Iranian petrochemical facility.
Soon after the Israeli PMO statement surfaced, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a categorical denial.
The ministry said relations between the UAE and Israel remain publicly governed under the Abraham Accords framework and rejected suggestions of any undisclosed arrangements.
“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.
“Accordingly, any claims regarding unannounced visits or undisclosed arrangements are entirely unfounded unless officially announced by the relevant authorities in the UAE,” it added.
The developments come at a time when tensions between Israel and Iran continue to reshape diplomatic alignments across the Gulf region.
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