CRITICALDIPLOMATIC

Iran claims US launched attacks on Iran from UAE territory — directly accuses UAE of hosting strike operations

2026-03-14 · 17:00 UTC·Tehran, Iran / United Arab Emirates

Iran publicly accused the United States of launching attacks on Iranian territory from the UAE, the Associated Press reported Saturday as the war entered its third week. The accusation directly implicates the UAE in US offensive strike operations and provides Iran's explicit justification for its morning declaration of UAE ports as legitimate military targets. If confirmed, the claim would mean the UAE — which has attempted to maintain some diplomatic ambiguity — is an active basing state for US offensive operations against Iran.

Iran officially accused the United States of using UAE territory to launch attacks on Iran, the Associated Press reported on Saturday as the conflict entered its third week. The accusation was made by Tehran publicly through official channels. The claim provides the explicit operational justification for Iran's earlier declaration that UAE ports, docks, and US military installations are legitimate military targets. Iran's argument is: if the UAE is hosting and enabling US strike operations against Iran, it is not a neutral third party but an active belligerent — making its military infrastructure a valid target under Iran's reading of the laws of armed conflict. The UAE hosts Al Dhafra Air Base, one of the largest US Air Force installations in the Middle East, including F-22 and F-35 stealth fighter squadrons, reconnaissance aircraft, tankers, and significant ISR assets. If US strike packages are routing through or being supported by UAE-based assets — which would be operationally logical given Al Dhafra's proximity to Iran — Iran's accusation has a plausible operational basis. The UAE has not publicly acknowledged hosting offensive strike operations against Iran and has maintained a position of not escalating beyond its existing US defense cooperation agreements. However, the pre-existing US military presence at Al Dhafra has almost certainly been operationally involved in the air campaign. Iran's public accusation forces a choice on the UAE: deny involvement (which may be untrue) or acknowledge involvement (which removes any protection neutrality afforded). It also changes the risk calculus for the UAE government's domestic communications with its population about its role in the conflict.

Actor responses

IranSUPPORTINGCLAIM

The United States launched attacks on Iran from UAE territory. The UAE is not a neutral party — it is an active participant in the aggression against Iran. Iran's decision to declare UAE military and port infrastructure legitimate targets follows directly from this fact.

IRGCSUPPORTINGCLAIM

American aircraft attacked Iran from UAE bases. The UAE leadership chose to make their territory a launch pad for aggression against Iran. They will bear full responsibility for the consequences.

United StatesOPPOSINGRESPONSE

We do not comment on specific operational basing arrangements. Our operations against Iran target Iran's military infrastructure. Iran's accusations are designed to justify its own illegal attacks on UAE civilian and commercial facilities.

US-IL JointOPPOSINGRESPONSE

Iran's attempt to implicate the UAE in the conflict is a transparent effort to expand the war and create a pretext for attacking civilian infrastructure. US operational basing arrangements are matters of bilateral agreements.