The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a decisive statement refusing to allow its territory, airspace, or waters to be used for “hostile military actions” against Iran. Despite hosting thousands of U.S. troops at the Al Dhafra Air Base, Abu Dhabi emphasized a policy of neutrality and de-escalation. This move comes just days after U.S. President Donald Trump announced an “armada” was heading to the Gulf to monitor Tehran following a brutal crackdown on domestic protesters.
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The USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group arrived in the Middle East on January 27, dramatically increasing American firepower. While the U.S. insists the deployment is to promote “regional stability,” the move has triggered sharp warnings from Tehran’s allies. In Beirut, Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem warned that any war against Iran would “ignite the region,” stating that his group is “not neutral” and would defend its backer if targeted.
UAE says it will not allow its airspace, territory or waters to be used in any military action against Iran. pic.twitter.com/QGZC1cRIng
— Geeta Mohan گیتا موہن गीता मोहन (@Geeta_Mohan) January 26, 2026
Diplomatic friction is also spreading to Iraq, where the U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned against the return of Nouri al-Maliki as Prime Minister. Rubio signaled that a government “controlled by Iran” could jeopardize the U.S.-Iraq partnership and Iraq’s access to its oil revenues held in New York. Amidst the military posturing, human rights groups have confirmed nearly 6,000 deaths in Iran’s recent unrest, though some estimates suggest the total could exceed 36,000.
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