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UAE Denies Attacking Iran Desalination Plant, Slams "Fake News"

A senior UAE official has firmly denied reports that the country attacked an Iranian desalination plant, labeling the story as "fake news." The official emphasized that the UAE distinguishes between the Iranian people, who are seen as victims, and the Iranian regime. The denial comes amid heightened regional tensions following the death of Iran's Supreme Leader and subsequent retaliatory strikes. Separately, Iran's foreign minister accused the US of attacking a water desalination plant on Qeshm Island, calling it a "blatant crime."

Key Points: UAE Refutes Report of Attack on Iran's Desalination Plant

  • UAE denies attacking Iranian facility
  • Official slams report as "fake news"
  • Distinction made between Iranian people and regime
  • Tensions high after Khamenei's death
  • US accused of attacking water plant
2 min read

"Will never place Iranian people in same basket": UAE slams reports of attack on Iran's desalination plant

UAE official calls reports of an attack on an Iranian desalination plant "fake news," distinguishing between the Iranian people and the regime.

"The UAE will never place the Iranian people in the same basket as the Iranian regime. - Ali Rashid Al Nuaimi"

Abu Dhabi, March 8

The United Arab Emirates on Sunday refuted reports of an attack on Iran's desalination plant, emphasising that it will not treat the Iranian people the way the Iranian regime has acted over the past week.

In a post on X, Ali Rashid Al Nuaimi, member of the UAE Federal National Council and Chairman of the Defense Affairs, Interior & Foreign Affairs Committee, slammed the reports as "fake news", stating that the country has the "courage" to announce such actions if it had carried them out.

"This is fake news. When we do something, we've the courage to announce it," Al Nuaimi said.

"The UAE will never place the Iranian people in the same basket as the Iranian regime. The Iranian people are the real victims of that regime and the ones who suffer the most from its policies. As neighbours, we recognize this reality and we care about their wellbeing," he further clarified in another post on X.

Earlier, it was reported by The Jerusalem Post suggesting that the United Arab Emirates had targeted an Iranian desalination plant on Sunday, which would have marked its first retaliatory strike in response to Iranian drone and missile attacks amid the ongoing conflict in the region.

However, Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi on Saturday slammed the US for attacks on a freshwater desalination plant on Qeshm Island, stating it's a "blatant and desperate crime" with grave consequences.

In a post on X, Araghchi emphasised that the US has set a dangerous precedent by targeting Iran's infrastructure.

"The U.S. committed a blatant and desperate crime by attacking a freshwater desalination plant on Qeshm Island. Water supply in 30 villages has been impacted. Attacking Iran's infrastructure is a dangerous move with grave consequences. The U.S. set this precedent, not Iran," Araghchi posted on X.

The development comes amid escalated tensions in West Asia, following the death of the 86-year-old Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in joint military strikes by the US and Israel on February 28. The strikes also killed several senior leaders of the Islamic Republic.

Following this, Tehran, in retaliation, launched counter-strikes targeting American military bases and Israeli assets across the region, including multiple Arab countries. Israel, along with the US, continued its strikes on Tehran, with Tel Aviv widening the conflict to Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah and Iranian-backed militant groups.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
The amount of fake news circulating during conflicts is alarming. Good on UAE for clarifying quickly. The last thing the region needs is more misinformation fueling the fire. Hope for peace prevails. 🙏
V
Vikram M
From an Indian perspective, we understand complex neighbourly relations. The UAE's statement is strategic. It puts pressure on the Iranian regime while appealing to its citizens. Smart geopolitics.
R
Rohit P
Attacking a desalination plant? That's hitting civilian infrastructure and is unacceptable, no matter who does it. Water is a basic human need. If the US did that, it's a serious war crime. The whole situation is spiraling dangerously.
S
Sarah B
Respectfully, while the UAE's statement sounds good, actions speak louder. Many Gulf nations have been involved in proxy conflicts. I hope this marks a genuine shift towards prioritizing the well-being of ordinary people over regional power games.
K
Karthik V
This is a mess. The Supreme Leader's death has created a huge vacuum. Now every action has a bigger reaction. India must stay firmly neutral and focus on securing our interests and our citizens in the Gulf. Our economy depends on stability there.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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