UAE officials deny Israeli reports of strike inside Iran

UAE officials deny Israeli reports of strike inside Iran Submitted by MEE staff on Sun, 03/08/2026 - 15:17 Abu Dhabi is 'struggling to understand Israeli conduct' and media briefings, says one official People walk as smoke rises in the background after a reported strike on the Shahran fuel tanks in Tehran, Iran, on 8 March 2026 (WANA/Majid Asgaripour via Reuters) Off United Arab Emirates (UAE) officials have denied Israeli media reports that Abu Dhabi took part in an air strike on an Iranian water desalination plant. In a statement issued on Sunday, the Emirati foreign ministry said the country was acting “in a state of defence” in response to attacks from Iran but “does not seek to be drawn into conflicts or escalation”. The statement came after several Israeli media outlets, citing anonymous sources, reported that the UAE was behind an attack on a desalination facility in Iran.