The United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) foreign ministry has said it summoned Iranian Ambassador to UAE Reza Ameri and handed him a “strongly worded protest note, informing him of the UAE’s condemnation and protest in the strongest terms” against the Iranian attacks.

The ministry said it stressed that targeting its territory was a “flagrant violation of its sovereignty, a threat to its national security, and a clear violation of all international charters, resolutions, and norms”.

It added that Minister of State Khalifa Shaheen Al Marar conveyed to the envoy the UAE’s “categorical rejection of any justifications or excuses by the Iranian government regarding the aggressive escalation that targeted civilian sites, including residential areas, airports, ports, and service facilities, and endangered innocent civilians”.

The ministry said the state minister demanded unconditional cessation of the attacks, emphasising that the UAE reserved the right to respond.