Iran’s Revolutionary Guard warned of a “dangerous future” for the United Arab Emirates over a U.S.-brokered agreement that sees the UAE open up diplomatic relations with Israel.
The Iranian guard called it “shameful” and an “evil action” underwritten by the U.S. that would set back U.S. influence and bring a “dangerous future” for the government.
TRUMP ANNOUNCES ‘HISTORIC PEACE AGREEMENT’ BETWEEN ISRAEL, UAE
That comes after Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said in a televised address that the UAE had made a “huge mistake” in normalizing ties with Israel and that it would allow the U.S. ally to gain a “foothold in the region.”
The Iranian Foreign Ministry had released a statement Friday in which it decried the “shameful move to normalize relations with the fake, illegitimate and anti-humane Zionist regime” calling it a “dangerous measure.”
President Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed announced Thursday that Israel and the UAE agreed to normalize relations.
“This historic diplomatic breakthrough will advance peace in the Middle East region and is a testament to the bold diplomacy and vision of the three leaders and the courage of the United Arab Emirates and Israel to chart a new path that will unlock the great potential in the region,” the statement read. “All three countries face many common challenges and will mutually benefit from today’s historic achievement.”
It said that delegation would meet in the coming weeks to forge agreements on subjects including investment, tourism, technology and the establishment of embassies.
PALESTINIANS SAY NEW ISRAEL, UAE DEAL PUSHES FAIR RESOLUTION FURTHER AWAY
The statement said that the “diplomatic breakthrough” was at “the request of President Trump,” and that Israel will “suspend declaring sovereignty over areas outlined in the President’s Vision for Peace and focus its efforts now on expanding ties with other countries in the Arab and Muslim world.”
The agreement was welcomed by countries such as Egypt, Bahrain and Oman, but was met with hostility by Turkey and the Palestinian Authority — which called it a “betrayal of Jerusalem, Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Palestinian cause.”
Israel has been quietly cultivating ties with the UAE and other Gulf countries for several years as they have confronted a shared enemy in Iran — which has been engaged in destabilizing activities and the support of terrorist groups in the region and elsewhere.
Meanwhile, the U.S. has been engaged in a “maximum pressure” campaign against the regime in Tehran, since leaving the Iran nuclear deal in 2018.
It has imposed sanctions on officials and Iran’s economy, and on Friday put forward a resolution to extend a soon-to-expire arms embargo on the country. While the resolution failed, the U.S. has warned that it intends to impose the embargo unilaterally.
