Iran on Wednesday rejected the United Arab Emirates' claim that Tehran had launched a missile towards the country, with Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei disputing the allegation amid heightened tensions in West Asia. The denial followed a statement by the UAE on Tuesday that it had detected two ballistic missiles launched from Iran earlier that day.
Baghaei expressed concern over what he described as an accusation against Iran, arguing that it was inconsistent with the principle of good neighbourly relations. He also maintained that such allegations could undermine efforts by regional countries to build trust and prevent further deterioration of the security situation in West Asia.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman urged countries in the region to avoid what he termed baseless accusations against Iran. He attributed the current regional instability to what Tehran describes as continued actions by the United States and Israel, and referred to what he characterised as a history of false-flag operations.
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The UAE Ministry of Defence had reported on Tuesday that two ballistic missiles had been detected. According to the ministry, one missile fell outside the country's territorial waters while the other landed within them. The ministry stated that the missiles were targeting maritime traffic and that no casualties or damage had been reported in connection with the incident.
The UAE said its armed forces remained on high alert and were prepared to respond to threats that could affect the country's security, sovereignty and stability. The incident comes against a backdrop of wider regional tensions, with maritime security and the movement of commercial traffic remaining major concerns as countries assess potential threats.
In a separate development, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced early Wednesday that the country had suspended all trade, commercial exchanges and financial transactions with Iran until further notice. Afra Al Hameli, the ministry's director of strategic communications, attributed the decision to escalating tensions that could affect regional and international peace and security, while reiterating the UAE's stated commitment to dialogue, cooperation and regional integration.
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