Iran Warns UAE: 'Will Be Pounded' If US Launches Ground Invasion From Its Territory

Iranian officials have issued a stark warning to the United Arab Emirates, threatening widespread attacks on Emirati state assets if the UAE facilitates a US ground invasion. According to two senior Iranian sources, Tehran believes the UAE is playing an active role in the ongoing US-Israeli military campaign against Iran. The warning directly ties the UAE's security to the potential for a major US military operation, raising the risk of the Emirates becoming a primary theater in a rapidly escalating regional conflict.

The specific threat emerges from US contingency planning. A month into the conflict, which has already roiled global markets, the Trump administration is reportedly weighing the use of ground troops to seize strategic Iranian islands in the Strait of Hormuz, namely Kharg Island and Qashm Island. Kharg Island is a critical chokepoint, handling roughly 90% of Iran's oil exports. Any such US operation would likely be launched from American bases in Gulf Arab states, including the UAE, which have already come under retaliatory Iranian attack for previous US-Israeli strikes.

This explicit threat significantly raises the stakes for the UAE, transforming it from a supportive logistics hub into a potential frontline target. It signals intense pressure on Abu Dhabi to reconsider the scope of its military cooperation with Washington, as hosting invasion forces could trigger direct and devastating retaliation. The warning follows an Iranian attack on the Fujairah industrial zone on March 3, demonstrating Tehran's capability and willingness to strike Emirati territory. The situation creates a severe dilemma for UAE leadership, balancing alliance obligations against the tangible risk of national infrastructure being 'pounded' in a wider war.