Tehran Accuses United States Of Utilizing UAE Ports For Strategic Strikes As Regional Conflict Enters Third Week

Iran threatens UAE ports and claims U.S. strikes were launched from Dubai. President Trump warns of hits on oil infrastructure as the regional conflict enters week three.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 14, 2026, 4:42 PM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from AP

Tehran Issues Evacuation Ultimatum For Major Gulf Ports

As the conflict between Iran and the coalition led by the United States and Israel enters its third week, Tehran has officially warned civilians to flee the Middle East’s busiest maritime corridors. Specifically targeting Jebel Ali in Dubai, Khalifa port in Abu Dhabi, and Fujairah, the Islamic Republic claimed these locations are being used as "hideouts" for U.S. military operations. This marks a significant shift in Iranian rhetoric, as the government now openly threatens the domestic assets of its neighbors, signaling a move toward a total regional blockade and the direct targeting of civilian-adjacent infrastructure.

Allegations Of Launch Sites In Ras Al-Khaimah And Dubai

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi claimed that recent strikes against Iranian energy hubs on Kharg Island were launched directly from the UAE. In a statement to MS NOW, Araghchi identified Ras Al-Khaimah and a location "very close to Dubai" as the specific staging grounds for the American aerial campaign. While U.S. Central Command has declined to respond to these specific allegations, the Iranian leadership insists that the use of sovereign Emirati soil for offensive actions has fundamentally altered the security landscape, though no verifiable evidence was provided to support the claim of UAE-based launches.

Interdicted Drone Sparks Fire At Key Oil Facility

The reality of the Iranian threat was felt in Fujairah on Saturday when debris from an intercepted Iranian drone ignited a fire at a domestic oil facility. While the UAE has not issued a formal statement on the incident, the strike represents the first tangible damage to Emirati infrastructure during this phase of the war. This follows a pattern of Iran firing hundreds of missiles and drones at its neighbors, previously claiming to target only U.S. military assets even as civilian airports and energy fields across the Gulf continue to report near-misses and direct hits.