Iran Denies Attacks On UAE, Warns Crushing Response To Any UAE-Territory Strikes

Iran denied it carried out any attacks on the United Arab Emirates and warned it would deliver a “crushing and regret-inducing response” to any attack launched from UAE territory. In a May 5 statement, the Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters said Iran’s armed forces had carried out “no missile or drone operations against the UAE

“The Iranian Foreign Ministry announced that Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is heading today, Tuesday, to Beijing as part of continuing diplomatic consultations with a number of countries, explaining that he will discuss with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi bilateral relations and regional and international developments”

Al-Jazeera Net

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent urged China to step up diplomacy to persuade Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz to international shipping, saying, “China, let's see them step up with some diplomacy and get the Iranians to open the strait.” Bessent said China was buying 90 percent of Iran's energy and accused Beijing of “funding the largest state sponsor of terrorism.” The TRT World report also said Bessent expected Trump and Xi to exchange views during their May 14-15 summit in Beijing, and it quoted him arguing the US is “fully in control of the Strait of Hormuz through its blockade of Iranian shipping.” In parallel, Al-Jazeera Net reported that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is heading to Beijing to discuss bilateral relations with Wang Yi and regional and international developments.

A report in آخر خبر described Iran trying to circumvent US-imposed sanctions on its ports by delivering oil shipments to Chinese ports using methods described as illegal, including “opaque documents” and tankers that “switch off their lights.” It said the U.S. Treasury says China buys about 90% of Iran's oil exports and that “tea kettles” account for the largest share of that buying, while also describing a “shadow fleet” that uses means to manipulate documents, ship identities, and when the shipment reaches Chinese refineries. Al-Jazeera Net framed Araghchi’s Beijing trip as Tehran seeking to prevent the naval blockade from being used as a tool to choke the Iranian economy, and it quoted Iranian political analyst Mehdi Khorratian warning that any delay in organizing “strategic and comprehensive” dialogues with China could leave long-term consequences for Iran’s national security. The same Al-Jazeera Net report said Khorratian argued Tehran needs Chinese financing of about $20 billion to import essential goods and urgent needs, including some imports from China and Russia and steel sheets from Russia.