The Israeli prime minister’s office asserted Wednesday that Benjamin Netanyahu had quietly visited the United Arab Emirates and met President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, a gathering it described as “a historic breakthrough in relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates.” The UAE immediately contradicted the account. Its official WAM news agency posted a denial, stating the country’s ties with Israel “are public and conducted within the framework of the well-known and officially declared Abraham Accords, and are not based on non-transparent or unofficial arrangements.” WAM also denied that any Israeli military delegation had been received.
The conflicting narratives came against the backdrop of the Israeli-U.S. war with Iran and intensified security cooperation between Israel and the Gulf state. A day earlier, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee revealed that Israel had sent Iron Dome air-defense weapons and personnel to operate them in the UAE. The federation has faced Iranian missile and drone fire even since a ceasefire was reached last month, and it has sought to reassure nervous investors that it remains safe and open for business. Iran has long criticized the 2020 Abraham Accords, under which the UAE normalized relations with Israel, and has repeatedly suggested Israel maintains a military and intelligence footprint in the Emirates.
In separate regional developments, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused Kuwait of attempting to “sow discord” by detaining four Iranians that Kuwait alleges are Revolutionary Guard operatives. In a post on X, Araghchi demanded their immediate release and said Iran reserved the right to respond. “This illegal act took place near an island used by the U.S. to attack Iran,” he wrote. Kuwait said the four were among a group who attempted to infiltrate Bubiyan Island, site of a Chinese-backed port project that came under Iranian attack during the war.
Inside Iran, prominent human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh has been released from prison more than a month after being detained by intelligence agents at her Tehran home, according to a rights group and her daughter. Sotoudeh is known for defending activists, opposition politicians, and women prosecuted for removing their headscarves. Her release on bail from Evin Prison coincided with President Donald Trump’s arrival in China for a visit expected to address the war.
Separately, doctors who examined Nobel Peace laureate Narges Mohammadi after she collapsed at an Iranian prison said she needs eight months of treatment for worsening vascular disease, her foundation reported. Mohammadi, 53, was transferred to a hospital on May 1 after losing consciousness. She was awarded the 2023 Nobel while imprisoned and has been jailed multiple times.