UAE embargoes Iran over alleged attacks

The conflict between the United States and Iran has entered a new phase of political attrition. The United Arab Emirates on Tuesday announced the suspension of all trade and financial dealings with Iran after alleging that two Iranian missiles targeting maritime navigation fell into the sea, a claim immediately rejected by Tehran.

Tuesday's announcement marked the latest UAE countermeasure against Iran, following its ambassador's recall earlier. The move also came after months of relative calm within UAE territory.

"In light of regional escalations … all trade, commercial exchanges and financial transactions with Iran have been halted until further notice," said Afra Al Hameli, communications director of the UAE's Foreign Ministry, while reaffirming Abu Dhabi's commitment to dialogue-based solutions for regional peace.

The UAE on Tuesday accused Iran of firing two ballistic missiles toward the country, the first such reported incident since May. It later said that the salvo was directed at shipping vessels, as Tehran denied firing missiles at the neighboring country.

"UAE air defenses detected two ballistic missiles launched from Iran toward the country, with the first falling outside the country's territorial waters, while the second fell within the territorial waters," the UAE military said in a statement posted on social media.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei later "categorically dismissed the UAE's claim that Iran had launched a missile toward that country", calling the allegation "harmful" to regional trust and security efforts.

Ali Abdollahi, chief of staff of Iran's armed forces, warned Gulf states on Wednesday against assisting the US military, saying that nothing is "hidden from our eyes".

When the conflict began on Feb 28, the UAE bore the brunt of Iran's attacks, with nearly 3,000 missiles and drones directed at it — more than any other regional country.

The US and Iran remain at odds over the Strait of Hormuz and the terms for ending the conflict, with the future of the talks uncertain after a 60-day negotiating period set under a memorandum of understanding ending on Monday.

In Washington, US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that no Iran-US talks were in the pipeline. He shared a map labeling the strait "NEW US Territory", even as he insisted that the vital waterway remained "open and operating".

Citing multiple US administration officials, CNN reported that Trump had instructed his negotiating team — including Vice-President JD Vance, and envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner — to hold off on engaging with Tehran, despite reports of preliminary positive-toned exchanges.

However, Iran said that it will not reopen the strait until Washington meets a sweeping list of demands, including ending the US blockade of Iran's ports, lifting oil sanctions, unfreezing Iranian assets and paying for war damages.

"I want to state clearly that the Strait of Hormuz will not be opened until the American commitments stipulated in the memorandum of understanding … are implemented," Speaker of the Iranian Parliament Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said in a speech broadcast on state television.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Tuesday that the US is now "begging" to negotiate on Tehran's conditions after failing to force it to surrender.

Control of the waterway, which Iran has effectively closed since the conflict began, remains at the heart of the deadlock between Tehran and Washington. In peacetime, nearly a fifth of the world's oil passes through the chokepoint.

Trump threatened on Monday to "bomb" US ally Oman if it interfered with a deal on the Strait of Hormuz.