Iran condemns Israel and UAE peace deal

IRAN has called the new deal establishing diplomatic relations between the United Arab Emirates and Israel a stab in the back to all Muslims. The deal, means that Israel will suspend its controversial plans to annex parts of the occupied West Bank,

President Trump called the deal between Prime Minister Netanyahu and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan “a truly historic moment”.

But Iran has strongly condemned the move. A statement from the country’s foreign ministry, reported by state TV yesterday, called the normalising of ties between the two countries a dangerous, “shameful” measure and warned the UAE against Israel interfering in the “political equations” of the Persian Gulf region.

“The UAE government and other accompanying governments must accept responsibility for all the consequences of this action,” the statement said.

The agreement makes the UAE the first Gulf Arab state – and the third Arab country, after Egypt and Jordan – to have full diplomatic ties with Israel.

They announced the new deal in a joint statement, saying deals between Israel and the UAE were expected in the coming weeks in such areas as tourism, direct flights and embassies.

Iran said in the state TV report that the establishment of diplomatic relations between Israel and the UAE revealed the “strategic stupidity” of the two countries and that it “will undoubtedly strengthen the axis of resistance in the region”.

The ministry statement called the deal a “dagger that was unjustly struck by the UAE in the backs of the Palestinian people and all Muslims”.

The deal delivered a key victory for US President Donald Trump.