【UAE's First Move to Join U.S. Economic War Against Iran】 The UAE Ministry of Defense announced on the 18th that its air defense systems detected two ballistic missiles launched from Iran, one falling outside UAE territorial waters and the other landing within them.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Baghai immediately rejected the allegations, accusing the UAE of violating principles of good neighborliness and mutual trust between nations.
He directly labeled it a false flag operation—clearly orchestrated by the U.S. and Israel, falsely blaming Iran. Thus, there is no evidence, nor any authentic video or footage showing actual attacks. The cost is so low—just a few keystrokes and a press release.
If Iran had truly launched these missiles, it would be a massive escalation, signaling a shift from pressure and warning to outright confrontation, directly targeting a neighboring country’s sovereignty and security. This is not Iran’s optimal strategy at this stage. Iran aims to control the Strait, not to expand the conflict indefinitely.
If Iran really intended to punish the UAE, those two missiles wouldn’t have landed harmlessly “within” what is claimed as territorial waters—they would have hit their intended targets directly.
According to Occam’s Razor principle, the claim that the UAE was attacked does not hold.
Yet despite Iran’s denial, the UAE Foreign Ministry swiftly announced the suspension of all trade, commercial ties, and financial transactions with Iran until further notice.
This is an unprecedented and extraordinary move.
Calling the UAE “the Eastern Israel” is no exaggeration.
The UAE’s decision to sever economic, trade, and financial links with Iran marks its first step into joining America’s “economic war” against Iran.
If we’re not mistaken, this action must have been prompted by clear incentives or pressures.
Combined with Bessent’s announcement last week about launching an unprecedented “economic war” against Iran, the UAE’s sudden “attack,” followed by the declaration to cut off all economic ties with Iran—step by step—it’s hard to believe this is coincidence.
In parallel, U.S. officials revealed that Trump has instructed his envoy to halt dialogue with Iran.
The White House has recently conveyed to allies that they are shifting strategies—from “a heavy hammer to stun Iran” to “gradual strangulation.”
This “gradual strangulation” strategy is precisely the economic war: targeting trade, finance, logistics, investment, energy, and diplomacy—all more powerful and sustainable than bomb strikes, allowing for sustained pressure before escalating military threats.
Throughout the conflict, although the UAE has endured Iranian attacks in the past, it has consistently avoided publicly declaring actions or positions against Iran. Now, finally, it has entered the arena—the calculations and considerations have changed.
A new pressure and encirclement—economic and military—are taking shape. Iran must prepare for the possibility that all its Gulf neighbors may sever commercial ties with it.
Harder days lie ahead for the Iranian people.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1873902356712448/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.