UAE Denies Netanyahu 'Secretly Visited' its President Amidst US-Israel War on Iran
New Delhi: The United Arab Emirates has denied that Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made what his office has described as a “secret visit” to the country during the US-Israel's war on Iran.
In a statement posted on X early on May 14 by the UAE's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the gulf country said, "The United Arab Emirates denies reports circulating regarding an alleged visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the UAE, or receiving any Israeli military delegation in the country."
In the statement, the UAE said that it "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."
"Accordingly, any claims regarding unannounced visits or undisclosed arrangements are entirely unfounded unless officially announced by the relevant authorities in the UAE. The UAE calls on media outlets to exercise accuracy and professionalism, and to refrain from circulating unverified information or promoting misleading political narratives," the statement said.
The UAE had normalised relations with Israel in 2020.
Netanyahu's office said on May 13 that the Israeli prime minister "secretly visited" UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in a gathering that “resulted in a historic breakthrough in relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates”.
The announcement came just a day after the US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said that Israel had sent Iron Dome air-defense weapons and personnel to operate them to the UAE.
Iran's foreign minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi has, meanwhile, indicated that the purported "visit" was known to Iran. On X, he warned against the UAE's collusion with Israel.
"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."
The UAE and other West Asian countries have come under Iranian missile and drone attacks after the US and Israel began bombing Iran in late February.
Last week, UAE’s official WAM news agency reported that Netanyahu was among the leaders who called the Emirati president to condemn Iranian attacks and express their solidarity with the Gulf federation.
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