Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Secretary General Mohsen Rezaei issued a sharp warning to the United Arab Emirates on September 30, cautioning the Gulf state against providing haven to what he termed “Gaza butchers” and threatening unspecified negative consequences.[1][2][3]
The warning, distributed through Iranian state media channels, drew an explicit parallel between the UAE’s hosting of American military installations and any potential provision of refuge to Israeli officials or operatives.[1][2][3] “Just as hosting American military bases has not brought you security, hosting the ‘Gaza butcher’ will not have good consequences,” Rezaei stated, according to reports.[1][2][3]
The message also contained a broader regional demand: the UAE should “learn from recent conflict, stop inciting wars, and cease baseless claims about Iranian islands.”[1][2][3] The reference to territorial disputes reflects longstanding friction over the Strait of Hormuz islands – Abu Musa and the Greater and Lesser Tunbs – which Iran controls but the UAE contests.
Rezaei’s warning carries particular weight given his position as secretary of Iran’s highest national security body, a post he has held since August 2025 following his appointment by President Masoud Pezeshkian and confirmation by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei. The timing coincides with broader regional anxiety over militant group movements and shifting Gulf alignments in the aftermath of the Gaza conflict.
The UAE has maintained a delicate balance in recent years, hosting American military assets while attempting to preserve economic ties with Iran. The emirate also signed the Abraham Accords normalizing relations with Israel in 2020, though formal diplomatic presence remains limited. Rezaei’s threat suggests Tehran views any deepening of UAE-Israeli security cooperation – particularly involving personnel involved in Gaza operations – as a red line warranting Iranian response.
The warning reflects a pattern of Iranian pressure on Gulf states perceived as moving closer to Western or Israeli security arrangements. It also signals that Tehran continues to view the Gaza conflict through a lens of regional proxy competition, using the conflict’s aftermath to reinforce its narrative that alignment with the West or Israel carries security costs rather than benefits.
The specific invocation of American bases suggests Iran may be considering escalatory options beyond rhetoric, though Rezaei did not specify what form consequences might take. Regional analysts have noted that Iran’s proxy networks in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen remain operational and responsive to Tehran’s strategic directives.
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Sources
- [1] Report from خبرگزاری فارس Critical of Israel and United States
- [2] Report from الإعلام الحربي – التغطية الإخبارية Critical of Hamas and Iran
- [3] Report from حزب الله الإلكتروني Critical of Hamas and Israeli forces
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