UAE Prohibits its Airspace from Being Used for an Attack on Iran

The United Arab Emirates has declared that its airspace, territory and territorial waters will not be used for any hostile military actions against Iran, reinforcing its position of neutrality amid escalating regional tensions tied to Tehran’s internal unrest and a growing U.S. military presence in the Middle East.

In a January 26 statement, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the Gulf state would also not provide logistical support for any attack on Iran, calling instead for dialogue, de-escalation, respect for international law and state sovereignty as essential to resolving current crises.

The announcement comes as the United States has deployed the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln strike group to Middle Eastern waters in a show of force that could presage military action over Iran’s brutal suppression of nationwide protests.

Militant Warnings of Retaliation

As tensions rise, two Iran-backed militant groups have signalled they could launch attacks if Tehran is struck militarily. Yemen’s Houthi rebels have hinted at resuming assaults on shipping in the Red Sea, where they previously targeted commercial vessels, while Iraq’s Kataib Hezbollah has warned that any attack on Iran would lead to a “total war” across the region.

Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem also issued a warning on Monday, emphasizing that any threat to Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is a threat to the militant group.  

Deadly Protests and Internet Blackout

The backdrop to these tensions is a violent nationwide protest movement in Iran, triggered in late December by economic hardship and fuelled by broader discontent with the government. According to rights groups, at least 6,126 people have been killed in the crackdown, including protesters, security personnel and civilians, with more than 41,000 arrests reported. The Iranian government cites a lower toll of 3,117 deaths.

Authorities have also imposed a near-total internet shutdown since January 8, effectively obscuring information flow within the country and complicating independent assessments of the unrest’s true scale.

U.S. President Donald Trump has underscored the deployment of a substantial U.S. naval armada, including the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group, to the Middle East as a signal of American resolve amid soaring tensions with Iran. Trump has repeatedly hinted that he could order military action against Tehran, saying the flotilla is headed to the region and that Washington is watching developments “very closely,” while expressing a preference to avoid conflict if possible.

At the same time, Trump suggested that Iran may be open to negotiations, telling Axios he believes Tehran “wants to cut a deal”, and Washington remains “open for business” on diplomacy. These remarks came as he returned from the World Economic Forum in Davos, reflecting a dual approach that keeps military options on the table while emphasising diplomatic channels amid fears of escalation.

UAE’s Neutral Stance

By prohibiting the use of its territory in any attack on Iran, the UAE is positioning itself as a stabilising force in a region edging toward possible confrontation. The policy reflects broader Gulf concerns over avoiding direct military entanglement and maintaining diplomatic approaches amid escalating threats from both state and non-state actors.