UAE warns Iran that its international defense ties are ‘purely sovereign matter’

The United Arab Emirates says that its ties and its international and defense partnerships are a “purely sovereign matter,” rejecting an earlier statement by Iran saying that Abu Dhabi’s cooperation with the US threatened Iran’s security and national interests.

The UAE’s foreign ministry says the Gulf country reserves its full sovereign, legal, diplomatic and military rights to address any “threat, allegation or hostile act.”

The intensified spat between the two countries comes after the UAE reported being attacked in the past days by Iran, after four weeks of relative calm since the ceasefire was announced by the US.

Iran denied carrying out operations against the UAE in recent days, yet warned of a “crushing response” if any action was launched from the UAE against Iran.