Iran has escalated tensions at the BRICS summit by publicly revealing details of what it claims was an Israeli attack, whilst simultaneously accusing the United Arab Emirates of treachery. The accusation centres on alleged Israeli military operations that Iran says were facilitated by Emirati cooperation, marking a significant diplomatic flashpoint amongst the bloc of developing nations.

The confrontation has intensified just 24 hours after the UAE firmly denied claims made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he had visited the Gulf state during the ongoing conflict with Iran. Netanyahu’s statement suggested the visit was related to coordinating responses to Iranian military threats, but Abu Dhabi moved swiftly to reject these assertions as false.

The timing of Iran’s BRICS intervention appears designed to embarrass the UAE on the international stage and expose what Tehran views as Arab complicity in Israeli military operations. The diplomatic row highlights the fractured relationships within the Arab Gulf states, where some nations maintain complex security partnerships with Israel whilst officially supporting Palestinian causes.

The incident underscores the broader regional tensions stemming from repeated Israeli airstrikes on Iranian targets and facilities, which Iran insists have been enabled by regional partners. The UAE’s public denial of Netanyahu’s visit suggests Emirati officials are concerned about the reputational damage of being seen as too closely aligned with Israel, even as security cooperation between Gulf states and Tel Aviv continues behind closed doors.

Source: Maariv — Original article in Hebrew.