Iran’s military command has issued a stern warning to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), threatening heavy retaliatory strikes against the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah if any further "aggression" against disputed islands in the Persian Gulf originates from Emirati territory.

The ultimatum was delivered on Saturday by the Khatam Al-Anbiya operational command and circulated via the Tasnim news agency.

The statement specifically cited the islands of Abu Musa and Greater Tunb, which are currently controlled by Tehran but have been a subject of a long-standing territorial dispute with the UAE.

The timing of the threat is critical, as the islands sit near the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz, a vital maritime chokepoint that typically handles 20% of the world’s oil supply.

Global energy markets have already been destabilized by the regional war, which ignited following US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28 and has since expanded across the Middle East.

Iran has repeatedly accused neighboring Gulf states of providing a platform for US forces to conduct operations.

Throughout the current conflict, Tehran has launched numerous missile and drone strikes against what it defines as "US interests" within these countries.

Military analysts suggest that a strike on Ras Al Khaimah would represent a massive escalation, potentially drawing the UAE—which has so far attempted to manage the crisis through diplomacy—into a direct and devastating military confrontation.

Source: AFP