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According to the Emirati source, the contact between Iran and Mohammed bin Zayed came just hours before an Emirati statement condemning the assassination of scientist Fakhri Zada, as the Foreign Ministry in Abu Dhabi warned of “actions that could escalate the region.” .
Although the American New York Times reported that Israeli intelligence sources unofficially claimed that Fakhrizadeh was assassinated, Iran also fears attacks from the United States, as it believes that outgoing President Donald Trump could attack him before his term ends on January 20.
The source quoted by the site confirmed that “Mohammed bin Zayed received a direct threat from Iran. He did not reach him through intermediaries,” as Iran told Bin Zayed: “We will hold him responsible for the murder of Fakhri Zadeh.”
Middle East Eye had requested comment from the UAE embassy in London, but had not received a response at the time of publication.
The United Arab Emirates, located just 70 kilometers from Iran across the Gulf, is one of Trump’s staunch allies and recently concluded a normalization agreement with Israel, with which relations have already seen mutual rapprochement and visits.
The official Emirati news agency announced on Monday that Abu Dhabi condemned the murder of the Iranian scientist and said it “condemns the heinous crime of murder that targeted Mr. Mohsen Fakhri Zadeh, which would lead to a state of fueling conflict. in the region “, and called on all parties to” practice The maximum restraint is to prevent the region from falling into new levels of instability and threatening peace. “
This comes at a time when Israeli media confirmed that security officials are concerned that their citizens in the UAE are at risk of retaliation, following the increase in the number of Israelis visiting Abu Dhabi and Dubai since normalization. of relations between the two countries in September 2020.
According to Israel’s Channel 12, Israeli and Emirati security officials have begun working together to improve the protection of Israelis currently in the UAE.
Although Iran has vowed revenge for Fakhrizadeh’s murder, Iranian officials told Middle East Eye over the weekend that any response would likely be considered and delayed.
Middle East Eye reported last week that Ismail Qaani, a prominent Iranian general, had ordered paramilitary forces operating for Iran by proxy in Iraq to avoid attacking the United States in any way, due to concerns that the Trump administration might provoke a devastating war.
According to the site, Iran hopes that Joe Biden’s arrival at the White House in January will lead to an easing of sanctions and a return to the nuclear deal concluded in 2015, from which Trump unilaterally withdrew two years ago.
