The United Arab Emirates on Monday condemned what it described as unjustified attacks on its territory amid the ongoing Middle East conflict, insisting that it has not allowed its soil to be used for strikes against Iran.
Speaking in Geneva, the UAE’s ambassador to the United Nations, Jamal Al Musharakh, said the country has repeatedly stated that it does not want to be dragged into the escalating confrontation.
“The UAE does not seek to be drawn into conflict or escalation,” Musharakh said.
Addressing the UN correspondents’ association, ACANU, he stressed that the Gulf state has maintained a clear position even before the current hostilities intensified.
“We’ve been very clear before and leading up to the current events we are witnessing in the region that as the UAE we will not partake in any attacks against Iran from our territory, and that we will not be involved in such a conflict,” he said.
“Our bases are not being used to attack Iran.”
Musharakh added that the UAE continues to advocate diplomatic engagement and a return to negotiations to reduce tensions in the region.
His remarks come after indirect talks between the United States and Iran over Tehran’s nuclear programme, facilitated by Oman, were held in Geneva on February 26.
Two days after the discussions, the United States and Israel launched what was described as the first wave of attacks in a war that has since seen Iran target multiple locations across the Gulf, including sites in the UAE.
“We were one of the countries that constantly called for the need for a negotiation, the need for diplomacy, the need for de-escalation,” Musharakh said.
“And we have constantly informed that our territories would not be used for any attacks against Iran. Yet we are being targeted, frankly, in a very unwarranted manner.”
According to the ambassador, the UAE has faced more than 1,400 attacks since the conflict began, involving cruise missiles, ballistic missiles and drones.
He said most of the projectiles were intercepted and destroyed by the country’s defence systems.
He also condemned what he called the “unprovoked targeting” of civilian infrastructure, including desalination facilities and energy installations.
“Tragically, these attacks have resulted in four civilian fatalities, as well as 114 minor injuries,” Musharakh said.
He emphasised that the UAE and other Gulf nations are not participants in the conflict.
“The UAE and other Gulf countries are not parties to the conflict… There is no legal basis for targeting third-party states that are not involved in hostilities.”
Meanwhile, Iran’s President, Masoud Pezeshkian, issued an apology on Saturday to neighbouring countries affected by attacks launched during the war.
Responding to the apology, Musharakh said the situation on the ground told a different story.
“The actions on the ground speak for themselves: my country is being attacked. Enough said.”
