Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made an undisclosed trip to the United Arab Emirates during the recent Israel-U.S. conflict with Iran, according to a statement released Wednesday by his office.
The announcement described the meeting with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan as one that “resulted in a historic breakthrough in relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates.”
However, Emirati authorities denied that any secret visit took place.
The UAE’s state-run WAM news agency rejected reports of Netanyahu’s visit, insisting that ties between the two nations are conducted openly under the framework of the Abraham Accords signed in 2020. WAM stated that relations with Israel “are public and conducted within the framework of the well-known and officially declared Abraham Accords, and are not based on non-transparent or unofficial arrangements.”
The report also dismissed claims that an Israeli military delegation had been hosted in the UAE. The Israeli announcement followed comments by U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, who disclosed that Israel had deployed Iron Dome air-defense systems and personnel to the Emirates during the conflict with Iran.
Despite a ceasefire reached last month, the UAE has continued to face missile and drone threats from Iran. Emirati authorities have sought to reassure international investors that the country remains secure and economically stable. Last week, WAM reported that Netanyahu joined other world leaders in calling Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to condemn Iranian attacks and express solidarity with the Gulf state.
The public disclosure of direct communication between Israel and the UAE remains uncommon, despite the strengthening of diplomatic and security ties since the normalization agreement under the Abraham Accords. Iran has consistently criticized the accord and has long alleged that Israel maintains intelligence and military operations within the Emirates. Since normalization, Israeli officials have made several visits to the UAE.
Meanwhile, tensions between Iran and Kuwait escalated after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused Kuwait of attempting to “sow discord” by detaining four Iranians alleged to be operatives of the Revolutionary Guard.
In a post on X on Wednesday, Araghchi demanded the immediate release of the detainees and warned that Iran reserved the right to respond. “This illegal act took place near an island used by the U.S. to attack Iran,” Araghchi wrote.
Kuwaiti authorities announced a day earlier that four men had been arrested while attempting to infiltrate Bubiyan Island on May 1, while two others escaped. The island, located in the northwestern Persian Gulf, hosts the Mubarak Al Kabeer Port project, a major infrastructure development linked to China’s global investment initiative. The island reportedly came under Iranian attack during the recent conflict.
In another development, prominent Iranian human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh was released from prison more than a month after her arrest, according to rights organizations and her family. Sotoudeh, widely recognized for defending activists, opposition figures, and women prosecuted for removing mandatory headscarves, had been detained by Iranian intelligence agents at her Tehran residence in April.
Her release coincided with U.S. President Donald Trump’s arrival in China for a highly anticipated visit expected to include discussions surrounding the Iran conflict. The Human Rights Activists News Agency, based in the United States, reported that Sotoudeh was freed on bail from Tehran’s Evin Prison.
Her daughter, Mehraveh Khandan, confirmed on social media that Sotoudeh had been granted temporary release. Iran’s semiofficial ISNA news agency also reported her release. Sotoudeh has faced imprisonment several times over the years, while her husband, activist Reza Khandan, has also been jailed in Evin Prison.
Concerns over the health of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi have also intensified. According to her foundation, doctors who examined the activist after she collapsed in prison said she requires several months of treatment.
Mohammadi, 53, lost consciousness in prison on May 1 and was urgently moved to a hospital in northwestern Iran. Nearly 10 days later, she was released on bail and transferred to a Tehran hospital for further examination by specialists.
Doctors reportedly found that her vascular disease had significantly worsened since her last medical assessment in 2024 and recommended at least eight months of treatment. Mohammadi received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2023 while imprisoned and has repeatedly faced detention throughout her activism. Her latest arrest occurred in December in the northeastern city of Mashhad.
