Iran issues warning against Arab states aiding US, as UAE cuts economic ties

Iran issues warning against Arab states aiding US, as UAE cuts economic ties Submitted by MEE staff on Wed, 08/19/2026 - 12:18 Tehran's armed forces chief says 'any assistance or facilitation provided to the aggressor US military amounts to participation' in war A member of the Iraqi special forces secures the Baghdad International Airport road during the arrival of Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf in Baghdad on 19 August 2026 (Ahmad al-Rubaye/AFP) Off Iran has warned Gulf states against aiding the US , hours after the UAE said it was cutting economic ties with Tehran. Ali Abdollahi, the chief of staff of the Iranian armed forces, warned on Wednesday that "any assistance or facilitation provided to the aggressor US military amounts to participation in the US military operation", as reported by Iran’s Mehr news agency. "It seems unlikely that such a large number of military aircraft, particularly refuelling aircraft, could be present at regional bases without knowledge of host countries," said Abdollahi.