The United Arab Emirates has formally denied Iranian assertions that dozens of attack drones struck the Al Minhad Air Base, a facility used by American forces, marking a sharp escalation in the war of narratives surrounding the ongoing US-Iran conflict.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed early Monday that it had “targeted areas where American helicopters and troops are stationed at Al Minhad base in the UAE with dozens of attack drones.” The announcement, broadcast on Iranian state television, framed the alleged operation as retaliation for American strikes on Larak Island in the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
However, the UAE Ministry of Defense swiftly rejected the claim. “Such reports are false,” the ministry stated on X, adding that the armed forces remain on a high state of alert. The denial came just hours after the UAE Air Force said it had responded to an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) detected over the country’s territorial waters, approaching from Iran.
Rapid Escalation After US Strikes on Larak Island
The exchange of claims follows the first American strikes on Iranian territory in a month. On Sunday, US forces hit two Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island, where, according to US Central Command (CENTCOM), IRGC forces were preparing to launch rockets carrying naval mines into the Strait of Hormuz. Iran said the strikes caused “deaths and injuries.”
Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian condemned the American action as “an aggression” but insisted Tehran does not seek war. “However, in the face of any aggression, we will never sit idle,” he said, according to Iranian media.
Strait of Hormuz: A Strategic Flashpoint
The Strait of Hormuz remains at the heart of the crisis. In June, Iran and the United States signed an agreement to reopen the vital waterway, and for three days more than 60 ships transited daily. But the deal collapsed, and US forces reimposed a blockade on Iranian ports. Tehran has sought to establish a new toll system for passage through the strait, which had previously been free, unlike the man-made Suez and Panama canals.
On Monday, the IRGC Navy claimed that a “rogue supertanker” attempting to use an “illegal route” south of the strait was engulfed in a massive fire after striking two naval mines and became completely immobilized. The claim could not be independently verified. On Sunday evening, the US military had stated it had “completed the demining of international shipping lanes.”
Oil Prices Surge on Renewed Hostilities
The renewed hostilities have already jolted global energy markets. Brent crude, the international benchmark, jumped 2.8% to $90.57 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate rose 2.7% to $85.64 per barrel. The price spike reflects deep concerns about the security of oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for roughly a fifth of the world’s oil supply.
UAE Calls for ‘More Realistic’ Political Approach
Amid the military escalation, a senior UAE official signaled a desire for a diplomatic off-ramp. Anwar Gargash, a top adviser to the UAE president, wrote on X that “a state of no war and no peace cannot be a sustainable solution.” He called for “realistic and sustainable political solutions that address the political and economic dimensions of the crisis,” beginning with de-escalation and the restoration of normal navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
Gargash also criticized what he called the “failed policy of targeting the Arab Gulf states and Jordan,” an apparent reference to Iranian threats and attacks against US allies in the region.
Regional Fallout: Jordan, Lebanon, and Diplomatic Moves
Iran also claimed to have attacked American military targets in Jordan with ballistic missiles and drones, targeting technical and maintenance facilities as well as aircraft at two bases. There was no immediate confirmation from Jordanian or US officials.
Meanwhile, the conflict continues to reverberate across the region. Israeli forces carried out fresh strikes in southern Lebanon, including artillery fire and white phosphorus shells on Nabatieh al-Fawqa and the Ali Taher heights, according to L’Orient Le Jour. The area has been a flashpoint due to Hezbollah’s support for Tehran.
In a separate development, French President Emmanuel Macron began an official visit to Sweden on Monday to strengthen bilateral military-industrial cooperation. The two countries are expected to finalize a €4.3 billion order for French frigates by Sweden.
As the situation remains fluid, international attention is focused on whether the latest round of strikes will trigger a broader regional war or whether diplomatic channels can prevent further escalation.
