Iran says UAE ‘must be held accountable’ after US eases export controls

Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi accused the United Arab Emirates of complicity in the U.S.-led military campaign against Iran, saying Abu Dhabi "must be held accountable" after a U.S. government document explicitly credited the Gulf state for supporting Operation Epic Fury.dawn+2

Gharibabadi's remarks, reported on Friday, came in response to a U.S. Department of Commerce announcement on July 9 that eased export control restrictions on the UAE, citing "the UAE's status as a U.S. Major Defense Partner and its support in advancing U.S. national security interests, including Operation Epic Fury". The Iranian diplomat said Washington's decision to relax export controls amounted to a reward for Abu Dhabi's role during the war.propakistani+3

The Document That Sparked the Dispute

The Bureau of Industry and Security announcement removed the UAE from restrictive country groups and reclassified it to a more favorable status, granting license-free access to military items, satellites, advanced computing, and dual-use technology. The explicit mention of Operation Epic Fury in the official filing provided what Tehran characterized as a formal U.S. government confirmation of the UAE's participation in the military campaign.middleeasteye+2

The accusation is not new. Gharibabadi made similar claims at the BRICS foreign ministers meeting in May, where he said the UAE "played a significant role in supporting and facilitating military aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran". Iran's U.N. Ambassador also sent a letter demanding reparations from the UAE in March, according to Reuters Thomson Reuters Corporation ↘ 1.85%.iranintl+1

A Volatile Relationship

The Iran-UAE dispute has been a defining subplot of the broader conflict. After the U.S. and Israel launched Operation Epic Fury on February 28, Iran retaliated with missiles targeting U.S. military installations across the Gulf, including in the UAE. The UAE condemned what it called "blatant Iranian attacks" and reserved the right to respond.mofa+3

In June, Reuters reported that the UAE agreed to release billions of dollars in funds to Iran in exchange for a halt to missile and drone strikes on its territory. Despite that arrangement, tensions have persisted as both nations continue to trade accusations over their respective roles in the conflict.reuters

The war formally wound down after the U.S. and Iran reached a 14-point memorandum of understanding in mid-June, which included a permanent ceasefire, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and a framework for nuclear negotiations. Implementation of that deal remains ongoing, with Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi separately accusing the U.S. of violating its terms.cnn+2