‘Foolish gamble’: Iran warns UAE over ‘collusion’ after Israel claims Netanyahu secret wartime visit

Iran warned the United Arab Emirates against “colluding” with Israel and fostering hostility toward the Iranian people, after claims emerged of a secret meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and UAE leaders during the Iran-Israel conflict.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, without naming the UAE directly, said those “colluding with Israel to sow division will be held to account”.

His remarks came after Netanyahu’s office claimed on Wednesday that the Israeli leader had made a “secret visit” to the UAE to strengthen relations and military coordination amid the war involving Iran, the United States and Israel.

Araghchi said Iran’s security services were already aware of the alleged meeting and warned that hostility toward Iran’s people was a “foolish gamble”.

“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,” Araghchi wrote on X.

What Netanyahu’s office claimed

Israel’s Prime Minister’s Office said Netanyahu secretly visited the UAE during Israel’s “Operation Roaring Lion” against Iran and met UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

The PMO described the visit as a “historic breakthrough” in ties between Israel and the Gulf nation.

UAE rejects claims

Hours later, however, the UAE foreign ministry denied reports of any secret visit by Netanyahu or any Israeli military delegation.

In a statement posted on X, the ministry said the UAE’s ties with Israel were public and conducted within the framework of the Abraham Accords.

“The UAE reaffirms that its relations with Israel are public and conducted within the framework of the well-known and officially declared Abraham Accords,” the statement said, urging media outlets not to circulate “unverified information”.

Reports of intelligence coordination

According to a Reuters report citing a source familiar with the matter, Netanyahu met Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Al Ain on March 26 and held talks for several hours.

The source also claimed that Dedi Barnea, head of Israel’s intelligence agency Mossad, visited the UAE during the conflict to coordinate military actions. The visit was also reported by The Wall Street Journal.

The controversy intensified after US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said Israel had sent Iron Dome missile defence batteries and personnel to the UAE during the conflict with Iran.