Iran denied the UAE's claim that it fired two ballistic missiles into the Persian Gulf, a dispute that prompted Abu Dhabi to suspend trade with Tehran. Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf began a three-day visit to Iraq and praised Iran-aligned militias, while Iran-backed groups have claimed recent drone attacks on foreign targets. Separately, France announced it will expel two Iranian embassy staff in response to earlier actions against French diplomats in Iran. Observers warn the incidents could increase regional tensions without diplomatic de-escalation.
Iran Denies UAE Missile Claim as Regional Tensions Rise; France Expels Two Iranian Diplomats
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf addresses attendees at the site near Baghdad International Airport where Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani was killed in a U.S. drone strike, in Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026.(AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)(AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)
Iran denied an accusation from the United Arab Emirates that it launched two ballistic missiles which fell into the Persian Gulf, while Tehran's parliament speaker and chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, arrived in neighbouring Iraq for a three-day visit.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf visits the site near Baghdad International Airport where Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani was killed in a U.S. drone strike, in Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026.(AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)(AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)
Diplomatic Fallout Between Iran and the UAE
Tehran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei dismissed Abu Dhabi's allegation that the missiles were 'targeting maritime navigation' and said such claims undermine efforts to build trust and avoid escalation in the region. Shortly after the incident was reported, the UAE Foreign Ministry announced it would suspend trade with Iran, citing regional tensions that it said threaten regional and international peace and security.
Iraqi security officers stand guard at the site near Baghdad International Airport where Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani was killed in a U.S. drone strike, during a visit by Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf in Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)(AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)
The UAE also accused Tehran earlier this week of firing drones at two tankers operated by a state-owned oil company as they transited the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian and Emirati authorities have offered competing accounts of those incidents, and independent verification of some claims remains limited.
An Iraqi security officer stands guard at the site near Baghdad International Airport where Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani was killed in a U.S. drone strike, during a visit by Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf in Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)(AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)
Qalibaf's Visit To Baghdad
Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf arrived in Iraq to meet Iraqi officials and leaders of an Iran-aligned political coalition. In remarks in Baghdad, Qalibaf praised Iran-backed Iraqi militias, referring to them as the 'resistance in Iraq' and calling them a 'key component of the country's national power.' He said their experience has allowed them to exert influence beyond bilateral borders.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf visits the site where Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani was killed in a U.S. drone strike near Baghdad International Airport, during an official visit to Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026.(AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)(AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)
Iran-backed militias have claimed responsibility for recent drone attacks targeting US bases and diplomatic facilities in the region, adding pressure on the Iraqi government as it seeks to balance relations between Washington and Tehran.
France Expels Two Iranian Diplomats
Separately, France announced it will expel two staff members of the Iranian embassy in Paris. French officials said the move was a response to the earlier expulsion of French diplomats from Iran and to what France described as an assault on two French diplomatic staff in the Islamic Republic last month.
Iran accused the French pair of participating in a secret meeting with 'suspects in a major case involving foreign infiltration and interference,' according to state media. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot condemned the actions against French personnel and rejected Tehran's accusations as fabricated, saying the two Iranian diplomats will leave Paris in the coming days.
'This behavior is contrary to the principle of good neighbourliness and disrupts ongoing efforts to strengthen trust between regional countries and prevent escalation,' said Esmail Baghaei, summarising Iran's response to the UAE allegation.
These developments come amid heightened regional tensions. Observers warn that competing accusations, retaliatory measures and proxy activity risk further escalation unless diplomatic channels and de-escalation measures are pursued.
Reporting: This article synthesises official statements from Iran, the UAE and France and regional reporting; some claims remain contested and lack independent verification.
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