Jakarta, ThedailyID — Senior officials from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Israel reportedly held a series of secret meetings in recent weeks to discuss their positions on Iran, according to Israeli media.
Channel 12, cited by the Palestine Chronicle, reported that the meetings took place in an undisclosed third country. The discussions reportedly coincided with renewed fighting between Iran and the United States, following a temporary ceasefire and diplomatic efforts to end the conflict.
According to the report, senior UAE officials expressed opposition to a memorandum of understanding signed by the US and Iran in June. The agreement aimed to help end the conflict between the two countries.
The UAE officials reportedly argued that the deal gave Tehran more time to delay major concessions while rebuilding its economy. One diplomat quoted in the report said the UAE had adopted a firmer position on Iran than some other Gulf states.
“The United Arab Emirates fully understands that there can be no leniency toward Iran,” the diplomat was quoted as saying.
The report also said UAE officials viewed Iran’s current diplomatic approach as a strategy to buy time rather than a genuine effort to resolve outstanding disputes.
During the meetings, representatives from both countries reportedly explored ways to coordinate diplomatic efforts against Iran in international forums. However, they agreed that any initiative would require coordination with the administration of US President Donald Trump.
The report comes after renewed hostilities between Iran and the United States. Earlier in the conflict, US forces used military bases in the Middle East to launch strikes on Iran. Tehran later responded by targeting American military and logistical facilities across Gulf countries.
Neither the UAE nor Israeli authorities have publicly confirmed the reported meetings.
