UAE denies Netanyahu secretly visited the country during the Iran war

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu softly visited the United Arab Emirates during the Israeli-U.S. warfare with Iran, his bureau said Wednesday. The UAE aboriginal denied immoderate concealed sojourn had occurred.

Netanyahu met with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan successful a gathering that “resulted successful a historical breakthrough successful relations betwixt Israel and the United Arab Emirates,” according to the Israeli statement. The Gulf federation normalized relations with Israel successful 2020.

The UAE’s authoritative WAM quality bureau aboriginal posted an nonfiction denying “reports circulating” astir a Netanyahu visit. According to WAM, the country’s relations with Israel “are nationalist and conducted wrong the model of the well-known and officially declared Abraham Accords, and are not based connected non-transparent oregon unofficial arrangements.”

The Emirati study besides denied immoderate Israeli subject delegation was received successful the UAE.

Israel's announcement came a time aft U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee revealed that Israel had sent Iron Dome air-defense weapons and unit to run them to the UAE.

The UAE has faced Iranian rocket and drone occurrence adjacent aft the ceasefire was reached past month. It has been trying to awesome to tense investors that it remains unfastened for concern and safe.

Last week, WAM reported that Netanyahu was among the leaders who called the Emirati president to condemn Iranian attacks and explicit their solidarity with the Gulf federation.

It was uncommon nationalist acknowledgment of nonstop talks betwixt the countries that normalized relations successful the 2020 Abraham Accords and person strengthened their ties during the Iran war.

Iran has criticized that statement and has repeatedly suggested implicit the years that Israel maintained a subject and quality beingness successful the Emirates.

Israeli leaders person made occasional visits to the UAE successful caller years aft normalizing relations.

Iran demands Kuwait merchandise detainees

Iran’s overseas curate accused Kuwait of attempting to “sow discord” by detaining 4 Iranians that the Gulf Arab state accuses of being Revolutionary Guard operatives.

In a station Wednesday connected X, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi demanded the Iranians’ contiguous merchandise and said Iran reserved the close to respond.

“This amerciable enactment took spot adjacent an land utilized by the U.S. to onslaught Iran,” Araghchi wrote.

A time earlier, Kuwait said 4 men were detained and 2 escaped portion trying to infiltrate Bubiyan Island successful the northwest country of the Persian Gulf connected May 1.

Bubiyan Island is location to Mubarak Al Kabeer Port, which is nether operation arsenic portion of a Chinese program to physique infrastructure crossed the world. It besides came nether Iranian onslaught during the war.

Iranian quality rights lawyer released

Prominent Iranian quality rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh has been released from situation much than a period aft being detained, a rights radical and her girl said Wednesday.

Sotoudeh, who is known for defending activists, absorption politicians and women prosecuted for removing their headscarves, was detained by Iranian quality agents astatine her location successful Tehran successful April.

Her merchandise comes arsenic U.S. President Donald Trump arrived successful China for a long-anticipated sojourn that is expected to interaction connected the warfare successful Iran.

The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, which intimately tracks developments successful Iran, said that Sotoudeh was released connected bail from Tehran’s Evin Prison.

Her daughter, Mehraveh Khandan, posted connected societal media that Sotoudeh was released connected impermanent custody. Iran’s semiofficial ISNA quality bureau besides reported Sotoudeh release.

Sotoudeh has been imprisoned aggregate times. Her activistic husband, Reza Khandan, has been imprisoned successful the aforesaid situation arsenic his wife.

Nobel Peace laureate needs semipermanent care

Doctors who examined Nobel Peace laureate and activistic Narges Mohammadi much than a week aft she collapsed astatine a situation successful Iran said she needs months of treatment, according to her foundation.

Mohammadi, 53, was urgently transferred from situation to a infirmary successful northwestern Iran connected May 1 aft she fell unconscious. She was released connected bail astir 10 days aboriginal and transferred to a infirmary successful Tehran wherever her specialists examined her.

The doctors said her vascular illness has worsened since she was past checked successful 2024 and recommended 8 months of treatment.

She was awarded the Nobel successful 2023 portion successful situation and has been jailed repeatedly passim her career. Her latest imprisonment began successful December erstwhile she was arrested successful the northeastern Iranian metropolis of Mashhad.

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Schreck reported from Dubai. Associated Press newsman John Seewer successful Toledo, Ohio, contributed to this report.

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