Iran, UAE Trade Barbs Over Israel Deal

In a speech on Saturday, Rouhani called Israel-UAE deal a 'huge mistake'

After a fiery speech from Iranian President Hassan Rouhani about the UAE’s agreement with Israel to normalize relations, the UAE summoned Iran’s diplomat in Abu Dhabi to discuss the matter.

In his speech on Saturday, Rouhani said the UAE made a “huge mistake” by reaching a deal to establish diplomatic relations with Israel. “They [the UAE] better be mindful. They have committed a huge mistake, a treacherous act,” Rouhani said.

The UAE’s foreign ministry said Rouhani’s speech was “unacceptable and inflammatory.” A spokesman from the Gulf Cooperation Council, an alliance of six Gulf states, also condemned Rouhani’s speech.

Israel has said they agreed to suspend the annexation of parts of the West Bank as part of the agreement with the UAE. But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has since said that he is “committed” to annexing the territory.

Iran’s Kayhan newspaper, a hardline paper whose editor is appointed by the Ayatollah, also fiercely came out against the UAE-Israel deal. “The UAE’s great betrayal of the Palestinian people … will turn this small, rich country which is heavily dependent on security into a ‘legitimate and easy target’ for the resistance,” a front-page Kayhan story said.

Author: Dave DeCamp

Dave DeCamp is the news editor of Antiwar.com, follow him on Twitter @decampdave.