In a statement, Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the visit and warned of the highly dangerous consequences of the Zionist regime’s presence in the region. The statement read: "At a time when the West Asia region is facing one of its most fragile and sensitive historical junctures—due to the Zionist regime’s military aggressions against Iran and the intensification of occupation and genocide in Islamic lands, particularly Palestine and Lebanon—the presence of a criminal whose hands are stained with the blood of hundreds of thousands of innocent people, and who is subject to prosecution by international courts, is extremely dangerous and alarming."

In this statement, the Iranian Foreign Ministry urged all regional countries to be mindful of the repercussions and consequences of such a presence, which threatens collective peace and security in the region. It declared: "Regional governments are expected to recognize their responsibility regarding regional peace and stability, refrain from paving the way for the Zionist regime’s destructive presence, and not allow their territories to become a base for destabilizing actions against other countries in the region."

* American Admissions

During this period, the UAE has also served as a launch point for acts of aggression against Iran; even US officials, including Donald Trump, have acknowledged the involvement of certain Emirati officials in attacks against Iran. Notably, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio explicitly stated during a congressional hearing: "Our allies in the region have demonstrated extensive cooperation; some of them, including the United Arab Emirates, have cooperated with a very active and serious approach." Meanwhile, *The Wall Street Journal* previously reported that the UAE—unlike some other Persian Gulf states—has been urging Donald Trump to adopt a tougher stance against Iran. In August, citing informed sources, the newspaper also reported that Emirati officials had asked Trump to take more decisive action against Iran.

This acknowledgment by US officials regarding the UAE's role comes despite recent remarks by Anwar Gargash, the diplomatic advisor to the UAE president, in an interview with *Foreign Affairs*, claiming that the country had opposed the war from the very beginning.

In a recent interview with Al-Mayadeen, Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi explained why relations between Iran and the UAE do not match the level of ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia, stating: "Perhaps the primary reason is the role played by Israel. Unfortunately, the UAE government has established close ties with Israel, and there is extensive political, economic, and commercial cooperation between them. During the recent war, there was evidence indicating that the US and Israel utilized UAE airspace and territory."

The top diplomat added: "We seek to establish rational, balanced relations with the UAE based on mutual understanding—free from the interference of foreign nations, and specifically Israel. We are prepared to move in this direction, and I am personally fully ready to restore relations to their pre-war state, or even improve upon it."