Iran urges Persian Gulf to avoid foreign reliance
UAE reports air defense response after attack
Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei urged Persian Gulf states to stop relying on extra‑regional powers for security, saying the US military presence destabilizes host countries and exposes them to risk. He called for regional cooperation and joint security mechanisms, insisting Iran harbors no hostility toward Persian Gulf Arab states and seeks respectful, mutually beneficial relations based on sovereignty.
Baghaei defended Iran’s targeted defensive actions as directed at US assets used to launch aggression, not at neighboring states, framing such measures as aimed at avoiding escalation with regional partners while confronting foreign adventurism.
Meanwhile The United Arab Emirates said its air defences were engaging missile and drone threats as firefighters battled a blaze at a major oil industry zone following a drone attack which authorities said had originated from Iran.
This strike was not the first time Fujairah's energy infrastructure had been targeted. A drone attack on March 14 had previously hit the Port of Fujairah, triggering fires and the suspension of some oil-loading operations.
