Can The UAE Face-Up To Iran

Michael Rubin, National Interest: The UAE Will Triumph Over Iran in the Next Middle Eastern War

As Iranian bluster again increases, it could very well be Abu Dhabi that teaches Tehran a permanent lesson.

The eleventh annual Council on Foreign Relations’ “Preventive Priorities Survey” once again stated the obvious : “Conflict between the United States and Iran as well as between the United States and China constitute two of the greatest threats to peace in 2019.” Certainly, Washington and Tehran appear on a collision course. The risk is not that the United States will pre-emptively launch an attack on Iran—as much as the Trump administration seeks to isolate and pressure Iran, that simply is not on the table—but rather than the United States and Iran might stumble into conflict.

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WNU Editor: Apparently the UAE is in a position that they can.

Iran Threatens Missile Strikes Against Saudi And UAE Capitals

#گوشمالی_سخت#داعش#اهواز#عربستان_سعودى #ابوظبي #إسرائيل pic.twitter.com/wsbww6UdM2

— mohammad (@s_m_manavi) September 25, 2018

Sputnik: Iranian Media Threatens Saudi Arabia, UAE With Missile Strikes - Reports

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has accused Riyadh and Abu Dhabi of financing the perpetrators of the terror attack which killed at least 25 people and injured more than 60 others during a military parade in southern Iran on Saturday.

Fars News Agency, a semi-official media resource affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, released and then pulled a video appearing to threaten the Saudi and UAE capitals with destruction in the aftermath of the terrorism in Ahvaz.

The Twitter video, which features a compilation of clips, was copied by a few users before being deleted, and shows footage of the Ahvaz attack interlaced with footage of Iranian missiles taking off, along with maps of the cities of Iranian adversaries, including Jerusalem, targeted by sniper scopes.

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Update: Iran video threatens missile strikes on UAE, Saudi Arabia (AP)

WNU Editor: Iran wants to retaliate against someone. My guess is that if they are going to do something, it will be in the next few days. But they are definitely not going to launch missile strikes against U.S. allies lie Saudi Arabia or the UAE.

Dispute Over Islands Heats Up Between Iran And The UAE

Iran-UAE Island Dispute Could Escalate -- Voice of America

WASHINGTON, DC — Together, Abu Musa, Greater Tunbs and Lesser Tunbs amount to fewer than 26 square kilometers of sand and scrub. But their location in the middle of Persian Gulf shipping and tanker lanes near the Strait of Hormuz gives the islands huge strategic importance.

And this importance extends not only to the United Arab Emirates and Iran – both of which claim the islands -- but far beyond. The dispute over who has sovereignty over the islands dates back more than a century. Until recently, the debate was a regional matter. Now, in the light of rising tension over Iran’s nuclear plans and Israel’s threats to attack Iran, the dispute could heat up quickly.

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My Comment: The international focus is on China's territorial disputes with its neighbors ... but the Iran/UAE dispute is even more serious when one realizes that a good portion of the world's oil supplies pass through these disputed islands everyday. My prediction on what is going to happen ... Iran will ignore all international demands that they withdraw their forces and enter into negotiations with the UAE.

U.A.E. Proposes A Solution To It's Island Spat With Iran

U.A.E. Says Iran Island Spat May Be Sent to International Court -- Bloomberg Businesweek

The Cabinet of the United Arab Emirates called for resolving a dispute with Iran over three islands in the Persian Gulf through negotiations or by taking the matter to the International Court of Justice.

The Cabinet met today and said the question of sovereignty over the islands must be decided “through peaceful diplomatic channels or under the umbrella of the international law,” according to a statement published on the website of ruler Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

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Update: Tiny Gulf islands rekindle big Arab-Iran dispute -- AP

My Comment: I do not know if this will accomplish anything. Iran has a long history of not respecting international decisions .... especially on decisions in which it perceives it's sovereignty is at stake.

UAE - Iran Island Dispute Intensifies

(Click on Image to Enlarge)

Gulf Leaders Discuss UAE-Iran Island Dispute -- Voice of America

Foreign ministers of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council held an emergency meeting in Doha Tuesday to discuss a territorial dispute between Iran and the United Arab Emirates, which some believe could pose a threat to international security. The talks followed a visit by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to Abu Musa, a Persian Gulf island controlled by Iran, but also claimed by the UAE.

Iranian state media said Mr. Ahmadinejad traveled to the disputed territory last week to deal with domestic issues.

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More News On The UAE-Iran Island Dispute

UAE says Gulf island spat threatens global security -- AFP
Gulf bloc warns Iran in escalating dispute over islands -- Washington Post/AP
Sheikh Abdullah: behaviour of Iran is 'dangerous' -- The National
Iran leader’s visit to island reignites feud with Emirates -- Washington Times
GCC slams Iran provocation -- Khaleej Times
GCC ministers express solidarity with UAE over Abu Mousa issue -- Gulf News
Saudi Arabia Blasts Iran Over Ahmadinejad's Visit To Disputed Island -- RTT News
Ahmadinejad urges Gulf cooperation amid islands row -- Jerusalem Post/Reuters
Iran FM warns over escalation of Gulf island spat -- FOX News/AP
US sympathizes with UAE in Iran island rift -- AFP
Iranian claims to disputed islands whitewash history -- Peter Hellyer, The National