Iran Says UAE Civilian Ports ‘Legitimate Targets,’ Claims US Military Presence

Iran’s foreign minister urged neighboring countries to ‘expel foreign aggressors.’

Fire and plumes of smoke rise from an oil facility in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, on March 14, 2026. Altaf Qadri/AP Photo

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has faced attacks from 1,600 Iranian drones since the United States and Israel launched Operation Epic Fury against Iran’s Islamic regime on Feb. 28.

Iran’s official judiciary news agency, Mizan, alleged that U.S. forces were located in the UAE’s civilian ports of Khalifa, Fujairah, and Jebel Ali, thus making them “legitimate targets” for Iranian attacks. Dubai’s Jebel Ali port is the busiest in the Middle East.