UAE announces the withdrawal of its ambassador and all members of its diplomatic mission and the close its embassy in Iran

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Sunday announced the closure of its embassy in Iran and the withdrawal of its ambassador from Tehran, after the latter launched a series of attacks in the Gulf that left four dead and dozens wounded.

The move is the strongest condemnation by a Gulf state since Iran launched strikes in response to US-Israeli attacks that killed the Islamic Republic’s supreme leader.

“The UAE announced the closure of its embassy in Tehran, and the withdrawal of its ambassador from the Islamic Republic of Iran and all members of its diplomatic mission,” the UAE Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

“The move came against the backdrop of Iran’s blatant missile attacks on state territory, which are aggressive attacks on civilian sites, including residential areas, airports, ports and service facilities, and endangered unarmed civilians in a dangerous and irresponsible escalation,” the embassy said.

The UAE reopened its embassy in Tehran and appointed a new ambassador in 2022, after improved relations between the two countries, and later, Saudi Arabia followed suit.

Iran’s ongoing and unprecedented bombing campaign in the Gulf raises fears of a widening conflict and destabilizing a region that has long been seen as an oasis of peace and security in a troubled Middle East.

On Sunday that explosions were heard in Dubai, Doha, Manama and Riyadh, on the second day of Iranian attacks that hit all Gulf states.

On Sunday, Tehran appeared to have targeted a complex of buildings in the UAE capital Abu Dhabi that houses foreign missions, including the Israeli embassy.

Two people were injured by shrapnel targeting the Etihad Towers.

The UAE Ministry of Defense reported that three people had been killed since Saturday, explaining that they were “Pakistani, Nepalese and Bangladeshi nationals”.

The UAE Ministry of Defense said in a statement that it had monitored 165 ballistic missiles launched from Iran towards the UAE, “152 of which were destroyed, while 13 of them fell into the sea,” noting that 541 Iranian drones were detected, 506 of which were intercepted and destroyed.

In Kuwait, the Ministry of Health announced that one person had been killed and 32 others injured since Saturday in Iranian attacks.

In Oman, the mediating country in talks between the United States and Iran, the port of Duqm and an oil tanker off its coast were attacked on Sunday.

Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr al Busaidi, who mediated the Iranian-US negotiations, later on Sunday called for a ceasefire during a phone conversation with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi.

The Omani Foreign Ministry said in a statement that al Busaidi affirmed the Sultanate of Oman’s continued call for a ceasefire and a return to dialogue and negotiation to resolve the ongoing conflict diplomatically and in order to achieve the legitimate demands of all parties.

He also wrote, Sunday evening on X that the door of diplomacy is still open.

Ahead of the Omani Foreign Ministry call, Oman reported that an oil tanker flying the flag of the Republic of Palau was targeted off its coast, noting that 4 of its evacuated crew members were injured.

Across the Gulf, civilian infrastructure has been attacked from airports and seaports to residential buildings and even hotels.

Bahraini authorities said drones attacked Manama airport at dawn on Sunday, causing minor damage.

The US embassy in Manama advised its citizens to stay away from hotels in the Bahraini capital, warning that they could become potential targets after the Crowne Plaza hotel was targeted.

In the UAE, which has borne the brunt of the attacks, authorities said two people were injured when debris from interceptor drones fell on homes in Dubai.

On Saturday, Iranian attacks caused fires in the Palm Jumeirah and the Burj Al Arab Hotel in Dubai.

At Abu Dhabi airport, at least one person was killed and seven injured in what authorities described as an “accident”, while another died earlier in the day in the capital from falling debris.

Dubai’s airport, the world’s busiest airport for international passengers, and Kuwait airport have also been attacked.

In Saudi Arabia, Iranian attacks on Riyadh’s main King Khalid International Airport and Prince Sultan Air Base, which houses US military personnel, were intercepted on Sunday.

The defense source, who preferred not to be named because of the sensitivity of the issue, said that the air defense forces successfully intercepted an Iranian missile near Riyadh airport as well as Prince Sultan Air Base on Sunday afternoon.

In Qatar, which hosts al Udeid, the largest US military base in the region, officials said Iran had fired 65 missiles and 12 drones toward the Gulf state, most of which were intercepted, but eight people were injured, one of them in critical condition.